2027 Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Master’s Degree Schools
[Criminal Justice & Police Science](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/criminal-justice-and-police-science/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 22 schools to find the best return on investment for criminal justice & police science students.
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2027 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
Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice earned the #1 spot for value among criminal justice & police science schools in the United States. Set in the city of New York, Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,470, while out-of-state students pay about $15,420. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $10,500. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice generally make around $62,921. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Texas A And M International University earned it the #2 place for criminal justice & police science. Set in the city of Laredo, Texas A And M International University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,894, with out-of-state students paying around $19,454. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $15,500. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Texas A And M International University earn a median of $46,596 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 44% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice & police science will find it at Purdue University Global, which ranked #3. Purdue University Global is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,101, with out-of-state students paying around $14,412. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $25,137. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $51,495. Set against $25,137 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice & police science will find it at Weber State University, which ranked #4. Weber State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ogden. Students from in state pay about $6,557 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,545 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $19,828. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Weber State University earn a median of $43,281 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,828 median debt.
Florida State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & police science, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,517, compared with $21,683 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $21,170 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $57,568. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Florida State University admits about 24% of applicants.
Eastern Kentucky University landed the #6 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Eastern Kentucky University is a large public school located in the town of Richmond. In-state tuition and fees average $10,320, compared with $21,230 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Eastern Kentucky University earn a median of $40,493 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Baltimore earned the #7 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the city of Baltimore, University Of Baltimore is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,992, while out-of-state students pay about $23,984. Students borrow a median of $25,500 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from University Of Baltimore generally make around $48,991. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Fitchburg State University placed #8 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Fitchburg State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Fitchburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,346, with out-of-state students paying around $17,426. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $43,418. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
William Carey University landed the #9 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Set in the city of Hattiesburg, William Carey University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,480. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $24,729. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of William Carey University earn a median of $35,540 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,729 median debt. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Monroe College Main Campus landed the #10 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Located in the city of Bronx, Monroe College Main Campus is a large private for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $18,464 in tuition and fees. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $20,975 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $58,544. Set against $20,975 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Columbia Southern University earned the #11 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Columbia Southern University is a very large private for-profit school located in the town of Orange Beach. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,224. Students borrow a median of $23,641 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Columbia Southern University generally make around $61,993. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Texas State University San Marcos ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public school located in the city of San Marcos. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,930. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $19,500. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Texas State University San Marcos generally make around $47,456. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Texas State University San Marcos admits about 89% of applicants.
George Mason University landed the #13 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,220, compared with $38,688 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,761 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $56,018. Set against $20,761 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. George Mason University admits about 88% of applicants.
Pennsylvania Western University earned the #14 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the town of California, Pennsylvania Western University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,436, while out-of-state students pay about $16,054. Students borrow a median of $26,966 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Pennsylvania Western University earn a median of $36,208 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Pennsylvania Western University admits about 94% of applicants.
University Of Virginia Main Campus came in at #15 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,118, with out-of-state students paying around $61,591. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $18,627 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $69,126. Set against $18,627 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 17%.
Kent State University At Kent earned the #16 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Kent State University At Kent is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kent. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,220, compared with $21,575 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,843 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $44,776. That is a strong return on a $22,843 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Grand Canyon University earned the #17 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the city of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $18,508. Students borrow a median of $27,048 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $50,294. Set against $27,048 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus placed #18 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,363, compared with $28,697 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $21,253. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $51,130 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 85%.
South Universitysavannah Online landed the #19 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Located in the city of Savannah, South Universitysavannah Online is a large private for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $17,895 in tuition and fees. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $55,652 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from South Universitysavannah Online generally make around $41,898. That is a strong return on a $55,652 median debt.
Keiser University Ft Lauderdale ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Keiser University Ft Lauderdale is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fort Lauderdale. Students from in state pay about $25,056 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $34,608 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $39,520. That is a strong return on a $34,608 median debt. The acceptance rate is 97%.
University Of New Haven landed the #21 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. University Of New Haven is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of West Haven. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $47,332. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of University Of New Haven earn a median of $49,615 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of New Haven admits about 60% of applicants.
Roger Williams University came in at #22 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the suburb of Bristol, Roger Williams University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,197. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $26,000. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Roger Williams University earn a median of $54,635 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Other Criminal Justice & Police Science Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Criminal Justice & Police Science rankings across degree levels:
View All Criminal Justice & Police Science Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 22 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 22 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.
