2027 Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools in the Rocky Mountains 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 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 the Rocky Mountains Region
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
Pikes Peak Community College tops our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools in the Rocky Mountains Region. Set in the suburb of Colorado Springs, Pikes Peak Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,510, while out-of-state students pay about $17,110. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $16,066. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Pikes Peak Community College earn a median of $50,546 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,066 median debt.
College Of Southern Idaho came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. College Of Southern Idaho is a large public school located in the city of Twin Falls. Students from in state pay about $3,360 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,840 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,130 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $30,479. Set against $11,130 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice & police science will find it at Laramie County Community College, which ranked #3. Located in the rural area of Cheyenne, Laramie County Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,613, with out-of-state students paying around $10,913. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $15,309 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Laramie County Community College earn a median of $51,302 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes Colorado Mountain College one of the best values for criminal justice & police science. Set in the town of Glenwood Springs, Colorado Mountain College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,616 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,840 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $68,129. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Red Rocks Community College earned it the #5 place for criminal justice & police science. Red Rocks Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Lakewood. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,859, compared with $17,459 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,667 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Red Rocks Community College earn a median of $72,583 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Delta Montrose Technical College placed #6 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Delta Montrose Technical College is a small public school located in the rural area of Delta. Students borrow a median of $4,750 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Delta Montrose Technical College generally make around $56,589. That is a strong return on a $4,750 median debt.
Weber State University earned the #7 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Weber State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ogden. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,557, while out-of-state students pay about $17,545. Students borrow a median of $19,828 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Weber State University earn a median of $43,281 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,828 median debt.
Bridgerland Technical College came in at #8 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Bridgerland Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Logan. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $12,000. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $28,884. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt.
North Idaho College earned the #9 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. North Idaho College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Coeur d'Alene. In-state tuition and fees average $3,396, with out-of-state students paying around $8,736. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $14,688 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from North Idaho College generally make around $49,489. Set against $14,688 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Trinidad State Junior College landed the #10 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Set in the town of Trinidad, Trinidad State Junior College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,608, with out-of-state students paying around $7,318. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $10,502. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Trinidad State Junior College generally make around $42,381. That is a strong return on a $10,502 median debt.
Aims Community College earned the #11 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the city of Greeley, Aims Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,258, while out-of-state students pay about $11,786. Students borrow a median of $9,062 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Aims Community College generally make around $57,841. That is a strong return on a $9,062 median debt.
Otero Junior College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Otero Junior College is a small public school located in the town of La Junta. Students from in state pay about $4,560 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,270 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $21,759. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Otero Junior College earn a median of $50,431 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Arapahoe Community College came in at #13 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Arapahoe Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Littleton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,434, while out-of-state students pay about $17,034. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $21,351. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Arapahoe Community College earn a median of $54,371 early in their careers. Set against $21,351 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pueblo Community College earned the #14 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Pueblo Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Pueblo. In-state tuition and fees average $5,049, with out-of-state students paying around $17,649. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $7,656 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $52,241. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Idaho State University earned the #15 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the city of Pocatello, Idaho State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,610, while out-of-state students pay about $27,720. Students borrow a median of $24,640 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Idaho State University earn a median of $51,446 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Front Range Community College landed the #16 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Set in the suburb of Westminster, Front Range Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,663, with out-of-state students paying around $17,263. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $24,774. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Front Range Community College generally make around $69,776. Set against $24,774 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mesa State College placed #17 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Mesa State College is a large public school located in the city of Grand Junction. In-state tuition and fees average $9,927, compared with $25,124 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,000 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Mesa State College earn a median of $51,921 early in their careers. Set against $18,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
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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 · 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.
