2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools in the New England Region
[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 best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 16 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 the New England Region
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
Northern Essex Community College earned the #1 spot for value among criminal justice & police science schools in the New England Region. Located in the suburb of Haverhill, Northern Essex Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,732, while out-of-state students pay about $12,516. Students borrow a median of $7,432 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $39,426. 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 Bunker Hill Community College, which ranked #2. Bunker Hill Community College is a large public school located in the city of Boston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,168, while out-of-state students pay about $11,112. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Bunker Hill Community College earn a median of $47,573 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Community College Of Rhode Island one of the best values for criminal justice & police science. Community College Of Rhode Island is a large public school located in the city of Warwick. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,550, with out-of-state students paying around $14,834. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $12,000. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Community College Of Rhode Island earn a median of $30,219 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Massasoit Community College earned it the #4 place for criminal justice & police science. Massasoit Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Brockton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,376, compared with $10,320 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $10,875. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $36,927. 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 Quinsigamond Community College, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Worcester, Quinsigamond Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,262, with out-of-state students paying around $11,206. Students borrow a median of $16,768 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Quinsigamond Community College earn a median of $40,039 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Springfield Technical Community College earned the #6 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Springfield Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,904 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,112. Students borrow a median of $7,500 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Springfield Technical Community College generally make around $37,044. That is a strong return on a $7,500 median debt.
Cape Cod Community College came in at #7 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the city of West Barnstable, Cape Cod Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,000, compared with $10,944 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $14,669 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Cape Cod Community College earn a median of $47,939 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Capital Community College landed the #8 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Located in the city of New Britain, Capital Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,338 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,596. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $12,059 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Capital Community College earn a median of $31,345 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,059 median debt.
Fitchburg State University came in at #9 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. 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. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $26,000. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $43,418. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Western Connecticut State University earned the #10 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the city of Danbury, Western Connecticut State University is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,401, while out-of-state students pay about $16,901. Students borrow a median of $24,875 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Western Connecticut State University earn a median of $38,235 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Vermont Technical College placed #11 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Vermont Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Randolph. In-state tuition and fees average $11,952, compared with $22,296 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $24,208. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $41,822. That is a strong return on a $24,208 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Suffolk University came in at #12 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the city of Boston, Suffolk University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $47,550. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $26,670 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Suffolk University generally make around $50,806. Set against $26,670 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
New England College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Set in the rural area of Henniker, New England College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,474. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from New England College generally make around $45,575. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. New England College admits about 92% of applicants.
University Of New Haven placed #14 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. University Of New Haven is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of West Haven. In-state tuition and fees average $47,332. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. 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. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Roger Williams University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Roger Williams University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bristol. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,197. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $49,996. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.
