2026 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/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong criminal justice & police science education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 32 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 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
Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice tops our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools in New York. Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public school located in the city of New York. In-state tuition and fees average $7,470, with out-of-state students paying around $15,420. Students borrow a median of $10,500 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice earn a median of $50,103 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 57%.
Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,170, with out-of-state students paying around $8,050. Students borrow a median of $6,500 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College generally make around $25,302. 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 Ulster County Community College, which ranked #3. Set in the rural area of Stone Ridge, Ulster County Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,666, with out-of-state students paying around $12,146. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $13,206. 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.
Cuny Hostos Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & police science, landing the #4 spot this year. Cuny Hostos Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Bronx. Students from in state pay about $5,254 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,134 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $6,256 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $38,821. That is a strong return on a $6,256 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Erie Community College one of the best values for criminal justice & police science. Located in the city of Buffalo, Erie Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,100, compared with $11,300 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $12,938. 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 placed #6 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Monroe Community College placed #7 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Monroe Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Rochester. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,006, while out-of-state students pay about $11,056. 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.
Columbia Greene Community College landed the #8 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Columbia Greene Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Hudson. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,048, with out-of-state students paying around $11,448. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $19,168 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Columbia Greene Community College generally make around $34,411. Set against $19,168 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Niagara County Community College came in at #9 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the rural area of Sanborn, Niagara County Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,894, while out-of-state students pay about $12,030. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $11,000. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Niagara County Community College generally make around $36,258. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Onondaga Community College placed #10 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Set in the suburb of Syracuse, Onondaga Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,102 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,392. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Onondaga Community College generally make around $35,781. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Orange County Community College placed #11 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. Students from in state pay about $6,526 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,334 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $14,250. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $36,111. That is a strong return on a $14,250 median debt.
Broome Community College earned the #12 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the suburb of Binghamton, Broome Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,624, while out-of-state students pay about $14,288. Students borrow a median of $11,674 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Broome Community College earn a median of $40,721 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,674 median debt.
Cayuga County Community College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Located in the town of Auburn, Cayuga County Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $7,056 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,336 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $38,709.
Dutchess Community College ranked #14 on our 2026 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, with out-of-state students paying around $10,670. Students borrow a median of $11,515 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Dutchess Community College generally make around $26,891. That is a strong return on a $11,515 median debt.
Mohawk Valley Community College earned the #15 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the city of Utica, Mohawk Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,218 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,851 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,500 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Mohawk Valley Community College earn a median of $36,754 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,500 median debt.
Rockland Community College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Rockland Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Suffern. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,862. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $10,510. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $41,799. That is a strong return on a $10,510 median debt.
Farmingdale State College earned the #17 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the suburb of Farmingdale, Farmingdale State College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,626, while out-of-state students pay about $18,536. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $19,528 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Farmingdale State College earn a median of $25,853 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,528 median debt. The acceptance rate is 63%.
Suny Westchester Community College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Set in the suburb of Valhalla, Suny Westchester Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,948 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,486 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $8,764. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Suny Westchester Community College earn a median of $57,520 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Jamestown Community College placed #19 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Jamestown Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Jamestown. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,840. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $15,876. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Jamestown Community College generally make around $39,561. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Adirondack Community College landed the #20 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Adirondack Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Queensbury. In-state tuition and fees average $6,844, compared with $9,616 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Adirondack Community College earn a median of $31,344 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt.
Monroe College Main Campus ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Monroe College Main Campus is a large private for-profit school located in the city of Bronx. In-state tuition and fees average $18,464. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $20,975. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Monroe College Main Campus earn a median of $38,602 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Monroe College Main Campus admits about 68% of applicants.
Herkimer County Community College placed #22 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Located in the town of Herkimer, Herkimer County Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,776. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $12,000. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Herkimer County Community College generally make around $37,597. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tompkins Cortland Community College earned the #23 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the rural area of Dryden, Tompkins Cortland Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,970, compared with $12,855 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,750 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Tompkins Cortland Community College generally make around $48,393. That is a strong return on a $20,750 median debt.
Suny College Of Technology At Canton came in at #24 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Suny College Of Technology At Canton is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Canton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,742, with out-of-state students paying around $15,769. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $19,079. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $33,827. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Saint Josephs College New York earned the #25 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Saint Josephs College New York is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $36,550. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $25,062. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Saint Josephs College New York generally make around $49,214. That is a strong return on a $25,062 median debt. Saint Josephs College New York admits about 72% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 27 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 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 · 32 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
