2026 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
[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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 26 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for criminal justice studies students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the criminal justice studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools
For return on investment in criminal justice studies, no school beat Snow College this year. Located in the town of Ephraim, Snow College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,338, while out-of-state students pay about $14,288. Students borrow a median of $10,440 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $42,776. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes College Of Southern Idaho one of the best values for criminal justice studies. Set in the city of Twin Falls, College Of Southern Idaho is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,360, with out-of-state students paying around $6,840. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $11,130 in student loans. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of College Of Southern Idaho earn a median of $30,479 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Salt Lake Community College earned it the #3 place for criminal justice studies. Located in the suburb of Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,426, with out-of-state students paying around $14,244. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $6,334. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Salt Lake Community College generally make around $44,042. That is a strong return on a $6,334 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Laramie County Community College one of the best values for criminal justice studies. Located in the rural area of Cheyenne, Laramie County Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,613, compared with $10,913 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,309 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Laramie County Community College generally make around $51,302. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice studies will find it at College Of Western Idaho, which ranked #5. College Of Western Idaho is a very large public school located in the rural area of Nampa. In-state tuition and fees average $3,446, while out-of-state students pay about $7,454. Students borrow a median of $7,381 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of College Of Western Idaho earn a median of $35,959 early in their careers.
Casper College earned the #6 position for value in criminal justice studies this year. Set in the city of Casper, Casper College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,410, with out-of-state students paying around $10,710. Students borrow a median of $12,598 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Casper College earn a median of $49,729 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,598 median debt.
Weber State University landed the #7 spot for criminal justice studies value this year. Weber State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ogden. In-state tuition and fees average $6,557, with out-of-state students paying around $17,545. Students borrow a median of $19,828 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Weber State University generally make around $43,281. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Sheridan College earned the #8 position for value in criminal justice studies this year. Set in the town of Sheridan, Sheridan College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,830 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,130 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $13,910 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $49,039. Set against $13,910 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Wyoming came in at #9 for value in criminal justice studies this year. Located in the town of Laramie, University Of Wyoming is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,768, with out-of-state students paying around $24,178. Students borrow a median of $19,393 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from University Of Wyoming generally make around $38,797. Set against $19,393 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 97%.
North Idaho College came in at #10 for value in criminal justice studies this year. Located in the city of Coeur d'Alene, North Idaho College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,396, while out-of-state students pay about $8,736. Students borrow a median of $14,688 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from North Idaho College generally make around $49,489. That is a strong return on a $14,688 median debt.
Lewis Clark State College landed the #11 spot for criminal justice studies value this year. Set in the city of Lewiston, Lewis Clark State College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,610 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,028 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $26,458 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $40,442. Set against $26,458 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Metropolitan State College Of Denver landed the #12 spot for criminal justice studies value this year. Set in the city of Denver, Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,124, with out-of-state students paying around $30,684. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $26,130. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Metropolitan State College Of Denver earn a median of $44,497 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Colorado Technical University Colorado Springs earned the #13 position for value in criminal justice studies this year. Colorado Technical University Colorado Springs is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Colorado Springs. Students from in state pay about $12,750 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $50,705 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Colorado Technical University Colorado Springs generally make around $40,342. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Montana State University Billings ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice studies schools. Montana State University Billings is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Billings. In-state tuition and fees average $7,280, with out-of-state students paying around $22,897. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $25,465. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $48,764. That is a strong return on a $25,465 median debt.
Dixie State College Of Utah came in at #15 for value in criminal justice studies this year. Set in the city of Saint George, Dixie State College Of Utah is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,306, compared with $18,246 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,399 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $31,558. Set against $17,399 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mesa State College earned the #16 position for value in criminal justice studies this year. Set in the city of Grand Junction, Mesa State College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,927, compared with $25,124 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $18,000. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Mesa State College generally make around $51,921. That is a strong return on a $18,000 median debt. Mesa State College admits about 82% of applicants.
Idaho State University came in at #17 for value in criminal justice studies this year. Set in the city of Pocatello, Idaho State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,610, with out-of-state students paying around $27,720. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $24,640. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Idaho State University earn a median of $51,446 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Northern Colorado earned the #18 position for value in criminal justice studies this year. Located in the city of Greeley, University Of Northern Colorado is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,901 in tuition and fees, compared with $26,979 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $18,568 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $38,422. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Boise State University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice studies schools. Boise State University is a very large public school located in the city of Boise. In-state tuition and fees average $9,048, compared with $27,788 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $22,071. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Boise State University earn a median of $37,891 early in their careers. Set against $22,071 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 26 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
