2027 Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools in New York

[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 29 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 York
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
Leading the list is Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice, our #1 best value for criminal justice & police science in New York. Set in the city of New York, Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,470, while out-of-state students pay about $15,420. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $10,500 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice earn a median of $50,103 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,500 median debt. Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice admits about 57% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice & police science will find it at Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College, which ranked #2. Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. Students from in state pay about $5,170 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,050. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $6,500. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College earn a median of $25,302 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,500 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice & police science will find it at Ulster County Community College, which ranked #3. Located in the rural area of Stone Ridge, Ulster County Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,666, with out-of-state students paying around $12,146. Students borrow a median of $13,206 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Ulster County Community College earn a median of $51,069 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes Cuny Hostos Community College one of the best values for criminal justice & police science. Set in the city of Bronx, Cuny Hostos Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,254, compared with $8,134 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $6,256 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Cuny Hostos Community College earn a median of $38,821 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Monroe Community College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Located in the suburb of Rochester, Monroe Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,006, compared with $11,056 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $13,750. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Monroe Community College generally make around $56,846. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Orange County Community College placed #6 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Located in the suburb of Middletown, Orange County Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,526, while out-of-state students pay about $12,334. Students borrow a median of $14,250 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $36,111. Set against $14,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Niagara County Community College came in at #7 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the rural area of Sanborn, Niagara County Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,894, with out-of-state students paying around $12,030. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Niagara County Community College earn a median of $36,258 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Columbia Greene Community College earned the #8 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Columbia Greene Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Hudson. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,048, compared with $11,448 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $19,168 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $34,411. That is a strong return on a $19,168 median debt.
Erie Community College came in at #9 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Erie Community College is a large public school located in the city of Buffalo. In-state tuition and fees average $6,100, while out-of-state students pay about $11,300. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $12,938 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Erie Community College generally make around $51,676. Set against $12,938 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hudson Valley Community College came in at #10 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Hudson Valley Community College is a large public school located in the city of Troy. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,796, while out-of-state students pay about $11,852. Students borrow a median of $10,700 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $43,989. That is a strong return on a $10,700 median debt.
Corning Community College landed the #11 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Corning Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Corning. Students from in state pay about $6,534 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,326. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Corning Community College earn a median of $40,110 early in their careers. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Onondaga Community College came in at #12 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Onondaga Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Syracuse. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,102, with out-of-state students paying around $11,392. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $11,000. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Onondaga Community College generally make around $35,781. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt.
Broome Community College came in at #13 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the suburb of Binghamton, Broome Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,624, compared with $14,288 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $11,674 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Broome Community College earn a median of $40,721 early in their careers. Set against $11,674 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cayuga County Community College earned the #14 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Cayuga County Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Auburn. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,056, with out-of-state students paying around $12,336. Graduates go on to earn a median of $38,709 ten years after entry.
Mohawk Valley Community College earned the #15 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the city of Utica, Mohawk Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,218, compared with $8,851 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $12,500 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $36,754. Set against $12,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Suny Westchester Community College came in at #16 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Suny Westchester Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Valhalla. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,948, while out-of-state students pay about $12,486. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $8,764. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Suny Westchester Community College generally make around $57,520. That is a strong return on a $8,764 median debt.
Dutchess Community College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Set in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,670 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,670. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $11,515 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Dutchess Community College earn a median of $26,891 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Jamestown Community College landed the #18 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Located in the town of Jamestown, Jamestown Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,840. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $15,876 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Jamestown Community College earn a median of $39,561 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,876 median debt.
Farmingdale State College came in at #19 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Farmingdale State College is a large public school located in the suburb of Farmingdale. In-state tuition and fees average $8,626, with out-of-state students paying around $18,536. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $19,528. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Farmingdale State College generally make around $25,853. Set against $19,528 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
Rockland Community College landed the #20 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Set in the suburb of Suffern, Rockland Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,862. Students borrow a median of $10,510 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $41,799. Set against $10,510 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tompkins Cortland Community College came in at #21 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Tompkins Cortland Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Dryden. Students from in state pay about $6,970 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,855 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $20,750 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $48,393. Set against $20,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Herkimer County Community College placed #22 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Herkimer County Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Herkimer. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,776. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $37,597. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Finger Lakes Community College earned the #23 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the rural area of Canandaigua, Finger Lakes Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,258, compared with $8,442 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $16,736 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $40,467. That is a strong return on a $16,736 median debt.
Monroe College Main Campus placed #24 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Set in the city of Bronx, Monroe College Main Campus is a large private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,464. Students borrow a median of $20,975 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $38,602. That is a strong return on a $20,975 median debt. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Suny College Of Technology At Canton earned the #25 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Suny College Of Technology At Canton is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Canton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,742, compared with $15,769 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,079 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Suny College Of Technology At Canton earn a median of $33,827 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,079 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Rest of the Top 29 Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s criminal justice & police science value ranking:
More Criminal Justice & Police Science Rankings
View All Criminal Justice & Police Science Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 29 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 29 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.