by our College Data Analytics Team
[Criminal Justice Studies](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/criminal-justice-studies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong criminal justice studies education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 13 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for criminal justice studies students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the criminal justice studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is Chemeketa Community College, our #1 best value for criminal justice studies in Oregon. Chemeketa Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Salem. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,345, while out-of-state students pay about $14,040. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $15,755. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $33,406. Set against $15,755 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Portland Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice studies schools. Located in the city of Portland, Portland Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,220 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,440. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $24,000. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Portland Community College generally make around $45,061. That is a strong return on a $24,000 median debt.
Linn Benton Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Albany, Linn Benton Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,317, with out-of-state students paying around $16,736. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $17,959 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $43,257. Set against $17,959 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #4 makes Portland State University one of the best values for criminal justice studies. Located in the city of Portland, Portland State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,118 in tuition and fees, compared with $29,136 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,641 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Portland State University generally make around $45,401. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Portland State University admits about 91% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Southern Oregon University earned it the #5 place for criminal justice studies. Set in the suburb of Ashland, Southern Oregon University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,762, while out-of-state students pay about $31,887. Students borrow a median of $22,000 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $40,553. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
The ranking above is published 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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.