2027 Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools in Pennsylvania
[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.
College Factual analyzed 13 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value criminal justice & police science schools.
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2027 Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools in Pennsylvania
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
Our analysis ranked Westmoreland County Community College the best value for a degree in criminal justice & police science in Pennsylvania. Located in the suburb of Youngwood, Westmoreland County Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,306, with out-of-state students paying around $14,728. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $11,000. Median earnings reach $37,439 ten years out. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice & police science will find it at Butler County Community College, which ranked #2. Butler County Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Butler. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,910, compared with $12,000 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,836 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Butler County Community College earn a median of $41,492 early in their careers. Set against $10,836 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Pennsylvania Highlands Community College one of the best values for criminal justice & police science. Set in the rural area of Johnstown, Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,110, compared with $13,350 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,315 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Pennsylvania Highlands Community College earn a median of $31,499 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,315 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Delaware County Community College earned it the #4 place for criminal justice & police science. Delaware County Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Media. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,930, while out-of-state students pay about $15,540. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $14,163. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Delaware County Community College generally make around $57,464. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Community College Of Beaver County is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & police science, landing the #5 spot this year. Community College Of Beaver County is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Monaca. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,500, compared with $20,700 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $16,802. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Community College Of Beaver County generally make around $49,354. Set against $16,802 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Reading Area Community College earned the #6 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the city of Reading, Reading Area Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,480, with out-of-state students paying around $12,510. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $13,979 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Reading Area Community College earn a median of $49,248 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Montgomery County Community College placed #7 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Montgomery County Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Blue Bell. Students from in state pay about $6,690 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,250 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $16,112 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $58,964. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Luzerne County Community College came in at #8 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the suburb of Nanticoke, Luzerne County Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,600, compared with $16,260 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Luzerne County Community College generally make around $32,847. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg came in at #9 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the city of Harrisburg, Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,975, with out-of-state students paying around $12,472. Students borrow a median of $15,750 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg earn a median of $37,916 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,750 median debt.
Pennsylvania Western University placed #10 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Located in the town of California, Pennsylvania Western University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,436, while out-of-state students pay about $16,054. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $26,966. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $36,208. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Lackawanna College placed #11 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Located in the city of Scranton, Lackawanna College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $18,400. Students borrow a median of $22,310 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Lackawanna College earn a median of $35,280 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,310 median debt.
Gwynedd Mercy College placed #12 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Gwynedd Mercy College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Gwynedd Valley. In-state tuition and fees average $40,838. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $27,000. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $65,243. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Neumann University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Neumann University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Aston. Students from in state pay about $39,100 in tuition and fees. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $41,637. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 81%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
