2027 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in Arizona
[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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 17 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for criminal justice studies students.
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2027 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in Arizona
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 Pima Community College this year. Set in the city of Tucson, Pima Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,442, compared with $7,758 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $7,562 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Pima Community College generally make around $47,820. Set against $7,562 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Rio Salado College earned it the #2 place for criminal justice studies. Located in the city of Tempe, Rio Salado College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,958. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $11,500. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $51,384. Set against $11,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice studies will find it at Mohave Community College, which ranked #3. Set in the rural area of Kingman, Mohave Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,208, while out-of-state students pay about $7,968. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $14,766. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Mohave Community College earn a median of $54,785 early in their careers. Set against $14,766 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Yavapai College earned it the #4 place for criminal justice studies. Set in the city of Prescott, Yavapai College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,948 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,486. Students borrow a median of $17,625 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $59,511. Set against $17,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Glendale Community College Glendale Az came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice studies schools. Located in the suburb of Glendale, Glendale Community College Glendale Az is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,358 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,959 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,996 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Glendale Community College Glendale Az generally make around $51,483. That is a strong return on a $15,996 median debt.
Phoenix College came in at #6 for value in criminal justice studies this year. Phoenix College is a large public school located in the city of Phoenix. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $15,204 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $51,053. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mesa Community College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice studies schools. Mesa Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Mesa. In-state tuition and fees average $2,358, compared with $8,959 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $13,750. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $54,730. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Paradise Valley Community College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice studies schools. Paradise Valley Community College is a large public school located in the city of Phoenix. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $14,204. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Paradise Valley Community College earn a median of $71,136 early in their careers. Set against $14,204 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Chandler Gilbert Community College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice studies schools. Located in the city of Chandler, Chandler Gilbert Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,358 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,959 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $10,447. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Chandler Gilbert Community College generally make around $46,943. That is a strong return on a $10,447 median debt.
Estrella Mountain Community College earned the #10 position for value in criminal justice studies this year. Set in the suburb of Avondale, Estrella Mountain Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,358 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $21,752 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $78,359. Set against $21,752 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Scottsdale Community College placed #11 among the best values for criminal justice studies. Scottsdale Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Scottsdale. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, while out-of-state students pay about $8,959. Students borrow a median of $13,084 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Scottsdale Community College generally make around $48,039. That is a strong return on a $13,084 median debt.
South Mountain Community College came in at #12 for value in criminal justice studies this year. South Mountain Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Phoenix. Students from in state pay about $2,358 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,958 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $39,825.
Northern Arizona University placed #13 among the best values for criminal justice studies. Set in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,619, with out-of-state students paying around $20,044. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $21,645. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $47,056. That is a strong return on a $21,645 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Arizona State University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice studies schools. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,223 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $33,139. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $22,000. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Arizona State University generally make around $53,732. That is a strong return on a $22,000 median debt. Arizona State University admits about 90% of applicants.
American Intercontinental University Online landed the #15 spot for criminal justice studies value this year. Set in the city of Chandler, American Intercontinental University Online is a very large private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,397. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $37,625. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from American Intercontinental University Online generally make around $32,231. That is a strong return on a $37,625 median debt.
Grand Canyon University earned the #16 position for value in criminal justice studies this year. Located in the city of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $18,508 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $27,048. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $45,737. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Grand Canyon University admits about 79% of applicants.
Ashford University placed #17 among the best values for criminal justice studies. Located in the city of Chandler, Ashford University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,960. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $37,625 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Ashford University generally make around $47,257. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
More Criminal Justice Studies Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 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.
