2026 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/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 41 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value criminal justice & police science schools.
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2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools in Florida
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 St Petersburg College the best value for a degree in criminal justice & police science in Florida. Located in the city of St. Petersburg, St Petersburg College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,682, with out-of-state students paying around $9,286. Students borrow a median of $14,080 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $48,218. Set against $14,080 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes Florida State College At Jacksonville one of the best values for criminal justice & police science. Set in the city of Jacksonville, Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,657, while out-of-state students pay about $9,631. 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Chipola College earned it the #3 place for criminal justice & police science. Located in the town of Marianna, Chipola College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,120, with out-of-state students paying around $8,950. Students borrow a median of $8,847 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $38,366. 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 Gulf Coast State College, which ranked #4. Gulf Coast State College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Panama City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,370, while out-of-state students pay about $8,635. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $6,250. 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.
Seminole State College Of Florida is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & police science, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Sanford, Seminole State College Of Florida is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,122, compared with $11,447 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $12,942 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Seminole State College Of Florida earn a median of $36,589 early in their careers. Set against $12,942 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
North Florida Community College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Set in the rural area of Madison, North Florida Community College is a small public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,994 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,460 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $7,902 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of North Florida Community College earn a median of $46,266 early in their careers. Set against $7,902 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Florida Gateway College placed #7 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. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $7,500 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $44,048. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hillsborough Community College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Set in the city of Tampa, Hillsborough Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,491, compared with $9,088 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $15,789. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Hillsborough Community College earn a median of $47,631 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,789 median debt.
Indian River State College came in at #9 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $10,201. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $9,176. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Indian River State College generally make around $51,825. That is a strong return on a $9,176 median debt.
South Florida State College came in at #10 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the suburb of Avon Park, South Florida State College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,165, compared with $11,859 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,204 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from South Florida State College generally make around $42,415. Set against $8,204 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pasco Hernando Community College placed #11 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Set in the suburb of New Port Richey, Pasco Hernando Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,155, while out-of-state students pay about $12,032. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $14,908 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Pasco Hernando Community College generally make around $53,856. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northwest Florida State College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Located in the suburb of Niceville, Northwest Florida State College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,583, compared with $10,612 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $11,808 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Northwest Florida State College generally make around $48,087. Set against $11,808 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Miami Dade College earned the #13 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,838, with out-of-state students paying around $9,661. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $9,563 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $34,209. Set against $9,563 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Eastern Florida State College placed #14 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Eastern Florida State College is a large public school located in the city of Melbourne. Students from in state pay about $2,791 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,976. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $8,635 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $51,461. That is a strong return on a $8,635 median debt.
Daytona State College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Located in the city of Daytona Beach, Daytona State College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $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. That is a strong return on a $8,169 median debt.
Saint Johns River State College came in at #16 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the town of Palatka, Saint Johns River State College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,591, with out-of-state students paying around $9,334. Students borrow a median of $16,293 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $47,807. That is a strong return on a $16,293 median debt.
Polk State College placed #17 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Set in the city of Winter Haven, Polk State College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,694, with out-of-state students paying around $9,818. 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.
Tallahassee Community College placed #18 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Tallahassee Community College is a large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,026, compared with $8,062 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $26,862 in student loans. 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.
Palm Beach State College came in at #19 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. Students from in state pay about $3,050 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,910 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,000 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Palm Beach State College earn a median of $69,415 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,000 median debt.
Florida State University placed #20 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. Students from in state pay about $6,517 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,683 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,170 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $46,245. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
Valencia College earned the #21 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Valencia College is a very large public school located in the city of Orlando. In-state tuition and fees average $2,664, while out-of-state students pay about $9,576. Students borrow a median of $10,500 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Valencia College generally make around $33,246. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Manatee Technical College earned the #22 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the suburb of Bradenton, Manatee Technical College is a small 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Technical Education Center Osceola came in at #23 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. Set against $10,812 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Santa Fe College earned the #24 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Santa Fe College is a large public school located in the suburb of Gainesville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,563, while out-of-state students pay about $9,189. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $17,558. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Santa Fe College earn a median of $45,407 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of Central Florida placed #25 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Located in the city of Ocala, College Of Central Florida is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,710 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,517. Students borrow a median of $18,934 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $48,055. Set against $18,934 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 35 Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in criminal justice & police science:
More Criminal Justice & Police Science Rankings
View All Criminal Justice & Police Science Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 41 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
