2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Associate’s Degree Schools
[Criminal Justice & Police Science](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/criminal-justice-and-police-science/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 706 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for criminal justice & police science students.
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2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in criminal justice & police science, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools
College Of San Mateo earned the #1 spot for value among criminal justice & police science schools in the United States. Located in the city of San Mateo, College Of San Mateo is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,332 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,428. Students borrow a median of $12,831 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Median earnings reach $54,172 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Grossmont College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Located in the suburb of El Cajon, Grossmont College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,332 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,628. Median earnings reach $40,309 ten years out.
A rank of #3 makes Moorpark College one of the best values for criminal justice & police science. Located in the suburb of Moorpark, Moorpark College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,426, with out-of-state students paying around $9,615. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $17,075. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Moorpark College generally make around $105,599. That is a strong return on a $17,075 median debt.
Moraine Valley Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Set in the suburb of Palos Hills, Moraine Valley Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,822 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,846. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $11,149. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Moraine Valley Community College generally make around $43,844. Set against $11,149 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice & police science will find it at College Of The Canyons, which ranked #5. Located in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,166, compared with $10,958 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,776 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $51,913. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cerritos College placed #6 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Set in the suburb of Norwalk, Cerritos College is a very large public institution. 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.
Mt San Antonio College came in at #7 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,364, while out-of-state students pay about $10,464. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $9,384 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $44,391. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fresno City College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Located in the city of Fresno, Fresno City College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,378, while out-of-state students pay about $8,638. Students borrow a median of $6,187 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Fresno City College generally make around $37,470. That is a strong return on a $6,187 median debt.
Skyline College landed the #9 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Skyline College is a large public school located in the suburb of San Bruno. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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.
San Diego Miramar College placed #10 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego Miramar College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,146, compared with $10,002 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $8,250 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $41,038. That is a strong return on a $8,250 median debt.
Moreno Valley College placed #11 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Moreno Valley College is a large public school located in the suburb of Moreno Valley. Students from in state pay about $1,428 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,498 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $12,643. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $81,339. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Gavilan College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Gavilan College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Gilroy. Students from in state pay about $1,508 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,249. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $5,939 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Gavilan College earn a median of $28,496 early in their careers. Set against $5,939 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Reedley College landed the #13 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Set in the town of Reedley, Reedley College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,378 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,638 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,500 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Reedley College earn a median of $30,520 early in their careers. Set against $6,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Frederick Community College earned the #14 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the city of Frederick, Frederick Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,849, while out-of-state students pay about $10,042. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $10,778 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Frederick Community College earn a median of $43,733 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pasadena City College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Set in the city of Pasadena, Pasadena City College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,180 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,924 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,191 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Pasadena City College earn a median of $38,841 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lansing Community College landed the #16 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Lansing Community College is a large public school located in the city of Lansing. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,100, while out-of-state students pay about $11,300. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $16,700 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $46,103. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of The Sequoias placed #17 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Set in the city of Visalia, College Of The Sequoias is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,394, with out-of-state students paying around $9,038. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $10,288 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $37,749. That is a strong return on a $10,288 median debt.
West Valley College earned the #18 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the suburb of Saratoga, West Valley College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $0, compared with $9,320 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $14,308. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $25,378. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Sacramento City College placed #19 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Set in the city of Sacramento, Sacramento City College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,288, while out-of-state students pay about $12,616. Students borrow a median of $11,760 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Sacramento City College generally make around $46,522. That is a strong return on a $11,760 median debt.
Irvine Valley College came in at #20 for value in criminal justice & police science 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. Set against $6,672 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northern Essex Community College landed the #21 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Located in the suburb of Haverhill, Northern Essex Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $6,732 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,516 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $7,432 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $39,426. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Victor Valley College landed the #22 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Set in the suburb of Victorville, Victor Valley College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,425 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,125. Students borrow a median of $7,995 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Victor Valley College generally make around $37,755. That is a strong return on a $7,995 median debt.
Santa Ana College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Set in the city of Santa Ana, Santa Ana College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,180 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,756. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $11,196 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $39,633. Set against $11,196 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Golden West College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Located in the suburb of Huntington Beach, Golden West College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,380, compared with $11,628 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $21,500. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $82,984. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt.
Ventura College came in at #25 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the city of Ventura, Ventura College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,426, while out-of-state students pay about $9,615. Students borrow a median of $20,250 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Ventura College generally make around $99,778. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s criminal justice & police science value ranking:
Other Criminal Justice & Police Science Degree Levels
Explore the best-value criminal justice & police science schools at other degree levels:
View All Criminal Justice & Police Science Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 706 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 119 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
