by our College Data Analytics Team
[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 schools below stand out for delivering a strong criminal justice studies education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 10 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value criminal justice studies schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in criminal justice studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Capital Community College earned the #1 spot for value among criminal justice studies schools in Connecticut. Capital Community College is a very large public school located in the city of New Britain. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,338, with out-of-state students paying around $15,596. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $12,059. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $43,086. That is a strong return on a $12,059 median debt.
Central Connecticut State University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice studies schools. Central Connecticut State University is a large public school located in the suburb of New Britain. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,050, with out-of-state students paying around $16,550. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $24,340. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Central Connecticut State University earn a median of $60,151 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,340 median debt. Central Connecticut State University admits about 73% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Post University one of the best values for criminal justice studies. Post University is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Waterbury. Students from in state pay about $15,922 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $33,444 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $39,887. That is a strong return on a $33,444 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Bridgeport earned it the #4 place for criminal justice studies. Set in the city of Bridgeport, University Of Bridgeport is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,760. Students borrow a median of $26,250 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of University Of Bridgeport earn a median of $29,284 early in their careers. Set against $26,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Bridgeport admits about 83% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Mitchell College one of the best values for criminal justice studies. Located in the city of New London, Mitchell College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $40,490. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $32,782. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Mitchell College admits about 95% of applicants.
Albertus Magnus College earned the #6 position for value in criminal justice studies this year. Set in the city of New Haven, Albertus Magnus College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $41,908 in tuition and fees. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $40,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Albertus Magnus College generally make around $43,581. Set against $40,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Albertus Magnus College admits about 59% of applicants.
University Of New Haven placed #7 among the best values for criminal justice studies. University Of New Haven is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of West Haven. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $47,332. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $27,000. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of University Of New Haven earn a median of $49,615 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Quinnipiac University landed the #8 spot for criminal justice studies value this year. Located in the suburb of Hamden, Quinnipiac University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $55,480. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $41,989. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Sacred Heart University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice studies schools. Located in the suburb of Fairfield, Sacred Heart University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $50,404. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $43,245. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.