2027 Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools in Florida
[Criminal Justice & Police Science](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/criminal-justice-and-police-science/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong criminal justice & police science education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 33 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for criminal justice & police science students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools in Florida
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
Our analysis ranked St Petersburg College the best value for a degree in criminal justice & police science in Florida. Set in the city of St. Petersburg, St Petersburg College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,682, compared with $9,286 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $14,080 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of St Petersburg College earn a median of $48,218 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes North Florida Community College one of the best values for criminal justice & police science. North Florida Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Madison. In-state tuition and fees average $2,994, with out-of-state students paying around $11,460. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $7,902. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from North Florida Community College generally make around $46,266. Set against $7,902 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Indian River State College one of the best values for criminal justice & police science. Indian River State College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fort Pierce. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,764, compared with $10,201 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $9,176 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $51,825. 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 Chipola College, which ranked #4. Set in the town of Marianna, Chipola College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,120, compared with $8,950 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,847 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Chipola College earn a median of $38,366 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,847 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Hillsborough Community College one of the best values for criminal justice & police science. Set in the city of Tampa, Hillsborough Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,491, with out-of-state students paying around $9,088. Students borrow a median of $15,789 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Hillsborough Community College earn a median of $47,631 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Florida State College At Jacksonville came in at #6 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the city of Jacksonville, Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,657, compared with $9,631 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,796 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $60,055. That is a strong return on a $15,796 median debt.
South Florida State College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Located in the suburb of Avon Park, South Florida State College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,165, while out-of-state students pay about $11,859. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $8,204 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $42,415. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northwest Florida State College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Set in the suburb of Niceville, Northwest Florida State College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,583 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,612. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $11,808 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Northwest Florida State College earn a median of $48,087 early in their careers. Set against $11,808 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Gulf Coast State College placed #9 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Gulf Coast State College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Panama City. Students from in state pay about $2,370 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,635 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,250 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Gulf Coast State College earn a median of $45,648 early in their careers. Set against $6,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Miami Dade College came in at #10 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,838, compared with $9,661 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $9,563. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Miami Dade College generally make around $34,209. Set against $9,563 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Manatee Technical College came in at #11 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the suburb of Bradenton, Manatee Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $9,726. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Manatee Technical College earn a median of $58,216 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,726 median debt.
Florida Gateway College placed #12 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Set in the town of Lake City, Florida Gateway College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,100, with out-of-state students paying around $11,747. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $7,500. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $44,048. That is a strong return on a $7,500 median debt.
Pasco Hernando Community College earned the #13 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the suburb of New Port Richey, Pasco Hernando Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,155 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,032. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $14,908. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Pasco Hernando Community College generally make around $53,856. That is a strong return on a $14,908 median debt.
Eastern Florida State College came in at #14 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the city of Melbourne, Eastern Florida State College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,791 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,976. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $8,635 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Eastern Florida State College generally make around $51,461. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Saint Johns River State College came in at #15 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the town of Palatka, Saint Johns River State College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,591, compared with $9,334 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,293 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Saint Johns River State College earn a median of $47,807 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Daytona State College placed #16 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Daytona State College is a large public school located in the city of Daytona Beach. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,106, while out-of-state students pay about $11,994. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $8,169 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Daytona State College generally make around $52,755. Set against $8,169 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Seminole State College Of Florida ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Seminole State College Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Sanford. In-state tuition and fees average $3,122, compared with $11,447 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $12,942. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Seminole State College Of Florida generally make around $36,589. Set against $12,942 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Palm Beach State College earned the #18 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Palm Beach State College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Lake Worth. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,050, with out-of-state students paying around $10,910. Students borrow a median of $16,000 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Palm Beach State College generally make around $69,415. That is a strong return on a $16,000 median debt.
Florida Panhandle Technical College placed #19 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Set in the rural area of Chipley, Florida Panhandle Technical College is a small public institution. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Florida Panhandle Technical College generally make around $38,381.
Tallahassee Community College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Tallahassee Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,026, compared with $8,062 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,862 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Tallahassee Community College earn a median of $43,235 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,862 median debt.
Polk State College placed #21 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Polk State College is a large public school located in the city of Winter Haven. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,694, compared with $9,818 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $14,451 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $47,071. Set against $14,451 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Florida State University placed #22 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,517, compared with $21,683 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $21,170 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $46,245. Set against $21,170 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 24%.
Santa Fe College came in at #23 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the suburb of Gainesville, Santa Fe College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,563, compared with $9,189 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,558 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Santa Fe College generally make around $45,407. Set against $17,558 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Valencia College ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Set in the city of Orlando, Valencia College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,664, compared with $9,576 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $10,500. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Valencia College earn a median of $33,246 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,500 median debt.
Technical Education Center Osceola earned the #25 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the suburb of Kissimmee, Technical Education Center Osceola is a small public university. Students borrow a median of $10,812 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Technical Education Center Osceola generally make around $53,164. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rest of the Top 33 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
The ranking above is published 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 · 33 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 33 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.
