2027 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in South Carolina
[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 best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 15 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value criminal justice studies schools.
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2027 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in South Carolina
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in criminal justice studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools
Our analysis ranked Trident Technical College the best value for a degree in criminal justice studies in South Carolina. Located in the city of Charleston, Trident Technical College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,546, while out-of-state students pay about $8,620. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $18,116 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $50,166. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Horry Georgetown Technical College one of the best values for criminal justice studies. Set in the city of Conway, Horry Georgetown Technical College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,518 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,978 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,500 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Horry Georgetown Technical College earn a median of $30,840 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,500 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Midlands Technical College earned it the #3 place for criminal justice studies. Set in the suburb of West Columbia, Midlands Technical College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,100, compared with $14,700 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $17,313 in student loans. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Midlands Technical College earn a median of $20,266 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Florence Darlington Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Florence Darlington Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Florence. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,636, compared with $6,772 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $7,230 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $34,948. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
York Technical College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice studies schools. Set in the city of Rock Hill, York Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,036, compared with $13,340 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $8,500 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $44,401. That is a strong return on a $8,500 median debt.
Aiken Technical College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice studies schools. Located in the suburb of Graniteville, Aiken Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,174 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,924. Students borrow a median of $17,884 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $51,894. Set against $17,884 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College landed the #7 spot for criminal justice studies value this year. Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Orangeburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,210, with out-of-state students paying around $8,354. Students borrow a median of $18,583 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $61,814. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northeastern Technical College landed the #8 spot for criminal justice studies value this year. Northeastern Technical College is a small public school located in the rural area of Cheraw. Students from in state pay about $5,664 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,024. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $18,933. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Northeastern Technical College generally make around $57,772. That is a strong return on a $18,933 median debt.
Piedmont Technical College landed the #9 spot for criminal justice studies value this year. Piedmont Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Greenwood. In-state tuition and fees average $4,775, with out-of-state students paying around $6,923. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $20,650 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Piedmont Technical College generally make around $32,721. Set against $20,650 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Greenville Technical College placed #10 among the best values for criminal justice studies. Set in the city of Greenville, Greenville Technical College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,495, while out-of-state students pay about $10,775. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $15,475 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $33,307. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Coastal Carolina University placed #11 among the best values for criminal justice studies. Set in the city of Conway, Coastal Carolina University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,640, while out-of-state students pay about $29,628. Students borrow a median of $27,174 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Coastal Carolina University generally make around $38,272. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Tri County Technical College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice studies schools. Set in the suburb of Pendleton, Tri County Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,448 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,007. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $15,787 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $35,726. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Claflin University came in at #13 for value in criminal justice studies this year. Claflin University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Orangeburg. In-state tuition and fees average $17,046. Students borrow a median of $37,009 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $33,345. Set against $37,009 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Claflin University admits about 65% of applicants.
Columbia College South Carolina ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice studies schools. Columbia College South Carolina is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Columbia. Students from in state pay about $20,054 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,773 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $48,839. Set against $26,773 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Columbia College South Carolina admits about 94% of applicants.
Charleston Southern University came in at #15 for value in criminal justice studies this year. Set in the city of Charleston, Charleston Southern University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $32,520. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Charleston Southern University generally make around $33,633. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
More Criminal Justice Studies Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 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.
