[Criminal Justice & Police Science](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/criminal-justice-and-police-science/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong criminal justice & police science education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 334 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value criminal justice & police science schools.
College Of San Mateo tops our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools in the United States. College Of San Mateo is a large public school located in the city of San Mateo. Students from in state pay about $1,332 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,428. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $12,831. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $54,172. That is a strong return on a $12,831 median debt.
Moorpark College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Set in the suburb of Moorpark, Moorpark College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,426, with out-of-state students paying around $9,615. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $17,075. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Moorpark College earn a median of $105,599 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice & police science will find it at Macomb Community College, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Warren, Macomb Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,660 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,370. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $6,964. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $38,758. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Middlesex County College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Located in the suburb of Edison, Middlesex County College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,764, with out-of-state students paying around $7,356. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $8,119. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $32,712. That is a strong return on a $8,119 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Schoolcraft College earned it the #5 place for criminal justice & police science. Located in the city of Livonia, Schoolcraft College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,799, while out-of-state students pay about $6,501. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $11,868. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $49,224. Set against $11,868 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ventura College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Located in the city of Ventura, Ventura College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,426, with out-of-state students paying around $9,615. Students borrow a median of $20,250 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $99,778. Set against $20,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Moraine Valley Community College came in at #7 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the suburb of Palos Hills, Moraine Valley Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,822, with out-of-state students paying around $9,846. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $11,149 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Moraine Valley Community College earn a median of $43,844 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Joliet Junior College placed #8 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Set in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,530, with out-of-state students paying around $13,800. Students borrow a median of $11,995 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Joliet Junior College generally make around $40,118. That is a strong return on a $11,995 median debt.
Modesto Junior College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Set in the city of Modesto, Modesto Junior College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,282, compared with $9,264 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $8,575. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Modesto Junior College earn a median of $36,525 early in their careers. Set against $8,575 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Victor Valley College earned the #10 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Victor Valley College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Victorville. Students from in state pay about $1,425 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,125 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $7,995. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Victor Valley College generally make around $31,600. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Del Mar College landed the #11 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Located in the city of Corpus Christi, Del Mar College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,500, with out-of-state students paying around $6,050. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $6,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Del Mar College generally make around $40,661. Set against $6,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Santa Ana College came in at #12 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Santa Ana College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Ana. Students from in state pay about $1,180 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,756. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $11,196. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Santa Ana College generally make around $39,633. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Skyline College placed #13 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Located in the suburb of San Bruno, Skyline College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,332, while out-of-state students pay about $9,956. Graduates go on to earn a median of $55,702 ten years after entry.
West Valley College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Located in the suburb of Saratoga, West Valley College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $0, with out-of-state students paying around $9,320. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $14,308. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of West Valley College earn a median of $25,378 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Irvine Valley College landed the #15 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Irvine Valley College is a large public school located in the city of Irvine. In-state tuition and fees average $1,156, with out-of-state students paying around $11,860. Students borrow a median of $6,672 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Median earnings reach $49,156 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Yuba College landed the #16 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Located in the suburb of Marysville, Yuba College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $1,128 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,208. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $8,729. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $89,816. Set against $8,729 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of The Sequoias earned the #17 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the city of Visalia, College Of The Sequoias is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,394 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,038 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $10,288. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of College Of The Sequoias earn a median of $37,749 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,288 median debt.
College Of The Canyons placed #18 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. College Of The Canyons is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Clarita. In-state tuition and fees average $1,166, while out-of-state students pay about $10,958. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $9,776. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from College Of The Canyons generally make around $51,913. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hartnell College placed #19 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Located in the city of Salinas, Hartnell College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,404, compared with $10,398 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,000 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $35,080. That is a strong return on a $6,000 median debt.
San Diego Miramar College came in at #20 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego Miramar College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,146, while out-of-state students pay about $10,002. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $8,250. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of San Diego Miramar College earn a median of $41,038 early in their careers. Set against $8,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South Texas College earned the #21 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. South Texas College is a very large public school located in the city of McAllen. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,920, compared with $7,620 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,500 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $25,738. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cerritos College ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Cerritos College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Norwalk. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,364, while out-of-state students pay about $12,004. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $11,306 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Cerritos College generally make around $29,495. That is a strong return on a $11,306 median debt.
San Joaquin Delta College earned the #23 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the city of Stockton, San Joaquin Delta College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,180, compared with $9,772 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,382 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from San Joaquin Delta College generally make around $65,168. Set against $6,382 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of The Mainland landed the #24 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. College Of The Mainland is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Texas City. In-state tuition and fees average $2,310, with out-of-state students paying around $4,140. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $10,928. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of College Of The Mainland earn a median of $48,704 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,928 median debt.
Pasadena City College ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Located in the city of Pasadena, Pasadena City College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,180, compared with $10,924 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $9,191. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Pasadena City College earn a median of $38,841 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,191 median debt.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in criminal justice & police science:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 334 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 334 ranked schools only.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
[Criminal Justice & Police Science](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/criminal-justice-and-police-science/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong criminal justice & police science education at a price that pays off.
