2027 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in New York
[Criminal Justice Studies](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/criminal-justice-studies/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 22 schools to find the best return on investment for criminal justice studies students.
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2027 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in New York
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in criminal justice studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools
For return on investment in criminal justice studies, no school beat Suffolk County Community College this year. Set in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,630, with out-of-state students paying around $12,460. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $7,625. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $31,617. Set against $7,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes Suny Westchester Community College one of the best values for criminal justice studies. Suny Westchester Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Valhalla. Students from in state pay about $5,948 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,486. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $8,764 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Suny Westchester Community College generally make around $57,520. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Schenectady County Community College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice studies schools. Located in the city of Schenectady, Schenectady County Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,190, while out-of-state students pay about $8,974. Median earnings reach $40,902 ten years out.
A rank of #4 makes Cayuga County Community College one of the best values for criminal justice studies. Located in the town of Auburn, Cayuga County Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,056, with out-of-state students paying around $12,336. Median earnings reach $38,709 ten years out.
A rank of #5 makes Suny College At Buffalo one of the best values for criminal justice studies. Suny College At Buffalo is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Buffalo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,533, compared with $19,653 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Suny College At Buffalo earn a median of $34,042 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 73%.
Suny Empire State College landed the #6 spot for criminal justice studies value this year. Set in the suburb of Saratoga Springs, Suny Empire State College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,648, compared with $17,558 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,693 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Suny Empire State College generally make around $58,140. Set against $23,693 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Herkimer County Community College placed #7 among the best values for criminal justice studies. Set in the town of Herkimer, Herkimer County Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,776. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Herkimer County Community College generally make around $37,597. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Suny College Of Technology At Alfred came in at #8 for value in criminal justice studies this year. Suny College Of Technology At Alfred is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Alfred. Students from in state pay about $8,892 in tuition and fees, compared with $16,837 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $19,721. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Suny College Of Technology At Alfred earn a median of $43,831 early in their careers. Set against $19,721 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Suny College At Potsdam placed #9 among the best values for criminal justice studies. Suny College At Potsdam is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Potsdam. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,768, compared with $18,678 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $25,999 in student loans. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Suny College At Potsdam earn a median of $35,950 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Suny At Fredonia came in at #10 for value in criminal justice studies this year. Suny At Fredonia is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Fredonia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,831, while out-of-state students pay about $19,771. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Suny At Fredonia earn a median of $30,168 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Suny College At Oswego came in at #11 for value in criminal justice studies this year. Set in the town of Oswego, Suny College At Oswego is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,825, with out-of-state students paying around $18,735. Students borrow a median of $25,788 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $34,561. That is a strong return on a $25,788 median debt. Suny College At Oswego admits about 80% of applicants.
Morrisville State College earned the #12 position for value in criminal justice studies this year. Located in the rural area of Morrisville, Morrisville State College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,825, with out-of-state students paying around $19,245. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Morrisville State College earn a median of $37,775 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Suny College At Brockport placed #13 among the best values for criminal justice studies. Suny College At Brockport is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Brockport. In-state tuition and fees average $8,752, compared with $15,822 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $21,660. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Suny College At Brockport earn a median of $35,495 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,660 median debt. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Suny College At Plattsburgh placed #14 among the best values for criminal justice studies. Suny College At Plattsburgh is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Plattsburgh. Students from in state pay about $9,035 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,945 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,940 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Suny College At Plattsburgh generally make around $35,527. Set against $25,940 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Suny At Albany landed the #15 spot for criminal justice studies value this year. Set in the city of Albany, Suny At Albany is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,601, with out-of-state students paying around $30,991. Students borrow a median of $23,521 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Suny At Albany generally make around $44,736. That is a strong return on a $23,521 median debt. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Suny College Of Technology At Delhi earned the #16 position for value in criminal justice studies this year. Suny College Of Technology At Delhi is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Delhi. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,772, compared with $12,762 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $19,872 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $38,416. Set against $19,872 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Suny College Of Technology At Delhi admits about 89% of applicants.
Suny College At Oneonta placed #17 among the best values for criminal justice studies. Suny College At Oneonta is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Oneonta. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,831, compared with $19,781 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $19,740 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Suny College At Oneonta generally make around $32,043. That is a strong return on a $19,740 median debt. The acceptance rate is 70%.
St Francis College placed #18 among the best values for criminal justice studies. St Francis College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Brooklyn. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $28,775. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $26,000. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of St Francis College earn a median of $33,146 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hilbert College ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice studies schools. Located in the suburb of Hamburg, Hilbert College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $33,740. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Hilbert College earn a median of $43,279 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Molloy College earned the #20 position for value in criminal justice studies this year. Set in the suburb of Rockville Centre, Molloy College is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $39,790 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,483 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Molloy College generally make around $35,291. That is a strong return on a $26,483 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Adelphi University placed #21 among the best values for criminal justice studies. Located in the suburb of Garden City, Adelphi University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $48,775. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $25,000. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $34,240. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 66%.
Rochester Institute Of Technology landed the #22 spot for criminal justice studies value this year. Set in the suburb of Rochester, Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $59,210. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Rochester Institute Of Technology generally make around $35,872. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Rochester Institute Of Technology admits about 67% of applicants.
More Criminal Justice Studies Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 22 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 22 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.
