2027 Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools in New Jersey
[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 best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 17 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for criminal justice & police science students.
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2027 Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools in New Jersey
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the criminal justice & police science degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools
Middlesex County College tops our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools in New Jersey. Middlesex County College is a large public school located in the suburb of Edison. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,764, while out-of-state students pay about $7,356. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $8,119 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $32,712. Set against $8,119 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Essex County College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & police science, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Newark, Essex County College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,415, while out-of-state students pay about $9,523. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $12,472 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $31,908. Set against $12,472 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice & police science will find it at Burlington County College, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Mount Laurel, Burlington County College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,990 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,495 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $10,000. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Burlington County College earn a median of $27,775 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 Mercer County Community College, which ranked #4. Set in the rural area of West Windsor, Mercer County Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,310 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,174. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $12,250. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $45,389. Set against $12,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Camden County College earned it the #5 place for criminal justice & police science. Set in the suburb of Blackwood, Camden County College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,320, while out-of-state students pay about $4,416. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $13,322. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Camden County College generally make around $43,451. That is a strong return on a $13,322 median debt.
Raritan Valley Community College came in at #6 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the rural area of Branchburg, Raritan Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,664, with out-of-state students paying around $7,584. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $5,500. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $47,248. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hudson County Community College came in at #7 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Hudson County Community College is a large public school located in the city of Jersey City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,384, with out-of-state students paying around $9,248. Students borrow a median of $10,671 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Hudson County Community College generally make around $20,232. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Passaic County Community College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Set in the suburb of Paterson, Passaic County Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,300, compared with $10,560 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,625 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $23,559. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Atlantic Cape Community College earned the #9 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the rural area of Mays Landing, Atlantic Cape Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,594 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,350 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $12,002 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Atlantic Cape Community College generally make around $37,141. Set against $12,002 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
County College Of Morris earned the #10 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the suburb of Randolph, County College Of Morris is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,210 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,310. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $9,040. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $23,024. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cumberland County College came in at #11 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the city of Vineland, Cumberland County College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,160 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,000. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $11,931. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $33,568. Set against $11,931 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Salem Community College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Located in the suburb of Carneys Point, Salem Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,360, while out-of-state students pay about $10,260. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $17,232 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Salem Community College earn a median of $51,781 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,232 median debt.
Brookdale Community College landed the #13 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Located in the suburb of Lincroft, Brookdale Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,270 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,140. Students borrow a median of $9,721 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Brookdale Community College earn a median of $30,595 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ocean County College earned the #14 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the suburb of Toms River, Ocean County College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,906, compared with $6,970 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $27,321. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Gloucester County College placed #15 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Gloucester County College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Sewell. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,160, while out-of-state students pay about $6,000. Students borrow a median of $11,931 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Gloucester County College generally make around $33,568. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rowan University came in at #16 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Rowan University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glassboro. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,574, compared with $26,932 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $23,250. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Rowan University earn a median of $33,254 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Berkeley College Woodland Park came in at #17 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Berkeley College Woodland Park is a mid-sized private for-profit school located in the suburb of Woodland Park. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $28,320. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $23,858 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $31,091. That is a strong return on a $23,858 median debt.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 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.
