2027 Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools in Arizona
[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 best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 15 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 Arizona
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
For return on investment in criminal justice & police science, no school beat Pima Community College this year. Set in the city of Tucson, Pima Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,442, compared with $7,758 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,562 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Pima Community College generally make around $47,820. Set against $7,562 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rio Salado College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Rio Salado College is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. In-state tuition and fees average $2,358, compared with $8,958 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,500 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Rio Salado College earn a median of $51,384 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,500 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice & police science will find it at Mohave Community College, which ranked #3. Located in the rural area of Kingman, Mohave Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,208, with out-of-state students paying around $7,968. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $14,766. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $54,785. That is a strong return on a $14,766 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cochise College earned it the #4 place for criminal justice & police science. Cochise College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Sierra Vista. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,280, with out-of-state students paying around $6,120. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $12,013 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Cochise College generally make around $40,712. Set against $12,013 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Yavapai College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & police science, landing the #5 spot this year. Yavapai College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Prescott. Students from in state pay about $2,948 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,486. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $17,625 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Yavapai College generally make around $59,511. Set against $17,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Glendale Community College Glendale Az ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Set in the suburb of Glendale, Glendale Community College Glendale Az is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, while out-of-state students pay about $8,959. Students borrow a median of $15,996 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $51,483. That is a strong return on a $15,996 median debt.
Phoenix College came in at #7 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the city of Phoenix, Phoenix College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,358 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $15,204 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $51,053. Set against $15,204 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mesa Community College came in at #8 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the city of Mesa, Mesa Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Students borrow a median of $13,750 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $54,730. Set against $13,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Paradise Valley Community College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Set in the city of Phoenix, Paradise Valley Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, while out-of-state students pay about $8,959. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $14,204 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $71,136. Set against $14,204 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Estrella Mountain Community College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Estrella Mountain Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Avondale. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $21,752 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Estrella Mountain Community College generally make around $78,359. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Chandler Gilbert Community College came in at #11 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the city of Chandler, Chandler Gilbert Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $10,447 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $46,943. Set against $10,447 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South Mountain Community College came in at #12 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. South Mountain Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Phoenix. Students from in state pay about $2,358 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,958 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $39,825 ten years out.
Scottsdale Community College earned the #13 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the rural area of Scottsdale, Scottsdale Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,358, compared with $8,959 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $13,084 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Scottsdale Community College earn a median of $48,039 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,084 median debt.
Arizona State University landed the #14 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,223, compared with $33,139 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $22,000. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $53,732. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Grand Canyon University came in at #15 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the city of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,508. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $27,048 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $45,737. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 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.
