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2023 Best Value Colleges for Criminal Justice (Income $0-$30k)

329 Ranked Colleges
32,891 Degrees Awarded
$3,300 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Criminal Justice Schools For Those Making $0-$30k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2020-2021, 32,891 people earned their degree in criminal justice, making the major the 27th most popular in the United States.

For this year’s “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 329 colleges that offer a degree in criminal justice. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent criminal justice programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the criminal justice program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Criminal Justice Schools

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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Criminal Justice Schools For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Criminal Justice (Income $0-$30k)

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend John Jay College of Criminal Justice. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. John Jay College of Criminal Justice is a fairly large public school situated in New York, New York. It awarded 1,483 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at John Jay, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools” ranking. It costs about $788 for criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Criminal Justice at John Jay College of Criminal Justice

2
Golden West College crest
Golden West College
Huntington Beach, California

Out of the 329 schools in the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Golden West College landed the #2 spot on the list. Golden West College is a fairly large school located in Huntington Beach, California that handed out 159 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

Golden West College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Criminal Justice Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Golden West College is $3,094 for Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Golden West College

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Hillsborough Community College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools For Those Making $0-$30k. Tampa, Florida is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s criminal justice degrees to 123 students in 2020-2021.

HCC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Criminal Justice Schools” list. It costs about $2,919 for criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Hillsborough Community College.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Hillsborough Community College

4

Out of the 329 schools in the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley landed the #4 spot on the list. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is a large public school situated in Edinburg, Texas. It awarded 542 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on this list, UT Rio Grande Valley is in the top on our “Best Criminal Justice Schools” list. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. The yearly cost to attend UT Rio Grande Valley is $2,191 for Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at UT Rio Grande Valley

5
Indian River State College crest
Indian River State College
Fort Pierce, Florida

Out of the 329 schools in the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Indian River State College landed the #5 spot on the list. Fort Pierce, Florida is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s criminal justice degrees to 44 students in 2020-2021.

Indian River State College excels when it comes to criminal justice quality. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Criminal Justice Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Indian River State College is $2,686 for criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Indian River State College Criminal Justice Report

6
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Santa Rosa Junior College
Santa Rosa, California

With a ranking of #6, Santa Rosa Junior College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Santa Rosa Junior College is a public institution located in Santa Rosa, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 73 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

SRJC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Criminal Justice Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for SRJC is $5,728 for criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Santa Rosa Junior College

7
SWC Chula Vista crest
Southwestern College
Chula Vista, California

Southwestern College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Southwestern College is located in Chula Vista, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 184 ’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

SWC Chula Vista excels when it comes to criminal justice quality. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. It costs about $4,197 for criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend SWC Chula Vista.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Southwestern College

8
Oakland Community College crest
Oakland Community College
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

Oakland Community College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Oakland Community College is a public institution located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 27 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $1,464 for criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Oakland Community College.

Full Oakland Community College Criminal Justice Report

9
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan

With a ranking of #9, Michigan State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Michigan State is a large public school situated in East Lansing, Michigan. It awarded 180 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Michigan State, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Michigan State is $6,927 for criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Michigan State

10

Orange County Community College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Middletown, New York, this medium-sized public school awarded 24 degrees to qualified ’s criminal justice students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Orange County Community College is $1,105 for criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Orange County Community College Criminal Justice Report

11
Mt. SAC crest
Mt. San Antonio College
Walnut, California

Mt. San Antonio College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #11. Located in Walnut, California, this large public school handed out 112 degrees to qualified ’s criminal justice students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Mt. San Antonio College is $2,412 for Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Mt. San Antonio College

12
Fresno City College crest
Fresno City College
Fresno, California

Fresno City College landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Fresno, California, this large public school handed out 151 diplomas to qualified ’s criminal justice students in 2020-2021.

Fresno City College excels when it comes to criminal justice quality. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for Fresno City College is $2,556 for criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Fresno City College Criminal Justice Report

13
Valencia College crest
Valencia College
Orlando, Florida

Valencia College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Valencia College is a large public school situated in Orlando, Florida. It awarded 172 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

Valencia College excels when it comes to criminal justice quality. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. The yearly cost to attend Valencia College is $4,942 for criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Valencia College

14
Erie Community College crest
Erie Community College
Buffalo, New York

Erie Community College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Buffalo, New York is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s criminal justice degrees to 73 students in 2020-2021.

Erie Community College also claimed a top spot on our “Best Criminal Justice Schools” list. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. The yearly cost to attend Erie Community College is $2,510 for Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Erie Community College

15
Moreno Valley College crest
Moreno Valley College
Moreno Valley, California

With a ranking of #15, Moreno Valley College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in Moreno Valley, California, and it awarded 82 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

On top of its placing in this ranking, Moreno Valley College also did well on our “Best Criminal Justice Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our “Best Criminal Justice Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Moreno Valley College is $4,761 for Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Moreno Valley College Criminal Justice Report

16
College of the Sequoias crest
College of the Sequoias
Visalia, California

College of the Sequoias did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #16. College of the Sequoias is located in Visalia, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 122 ’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for College of the Sequoias is $501 for criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Criminal Justice at College of the Sequoias

17
Palm Beach State College crest
Palm Beach State College
Lake Worth, Florida

Palm Beach State College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #17. Palm Beach State College is located in Lake Worth, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 19 ’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for Palm Beach State College is $8,452 for criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Palm Beach State College

18
Nassau Community College crest
Nassau Community College
Garden City, New York

Nassau Community College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Garden City, New York, this fairly large public school handed out 171 degrees to qualified ’s criminal justice students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Nassau Community College is $2,197 for criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Nassau Community College

19
Ventura College crest
Ventura College
Ventura, California

Ventura College landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Ventura College is a public institution located in Ventura, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 170 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Ventura College is $321 for Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Ventura College

20

Florida State College at Jacksonville landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Jacksonville, Florida, and it awarded 47 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend FSCJ is $1,144 for Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full FSCJ Criminal Justice Report

21
SPC crest
St Petersburg College
Clearwater, Florida

With a ranking of #21, St Petersburg College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Clearwater, Florida, and it awarded 42 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for St Petersburg College is $676 for Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at SPC

22
UGA crest
University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia

University of Georgia landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Athens, Georgia, and it awarded 85 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UGA, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Georgia is $8,303 for Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Georgia Criminal Justice Report

23
Sacramento City crest
Sacramento City College
Sacramento, California

Sacramento City College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Sacramento City is a public institution located in Sacramento, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 132 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Sacramento City is $5,022 for Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Sacramento City College Criminal Justice Report

24
SAC crest
Santa Ana College
Santa Ana, California

Santa Ana College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. SAC is a public institution located in Santa Ana, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 80 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend SAC is $3,975 for Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full SAC Criminal Justice Report

25
Monroe Community College crest
Monroe Community College
Rochester, New York

With a ranking of #25, Monroe Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Rochester, New York is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s criminal justice degrees to 50 students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Monroe Community College is $4,543 for Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Monroe Community College Criminal Justice Report

Rest of the Best 50 in Best Value Criminal Justice Schools For Those Making $0-$30k

Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
MDC crest
Miami Dade College
Miami, Florida
27
28
Ferris crest
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, Michigan
29
30
San Diego Miramar College crest
San Diego Miramar College
San Diego, California
31
32
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Raritan Valley Community College
Branchburg, New Jersey
33
34
35
Amarillo College crest
Amarillo College
Amarillo, Texas
36
37
Lake Superior State University crest
Lake Superior State University
Sault Ste Marie, Michigan
38
Henry Ford College crest
Henry Ford College
Dearborn, Michigan
39
Oakland crest
Oakland University
Rochester Hills, Michigan
40
41
Riverside City College crest
Riverside City College
Riverside, California
42
43
FGC crest
Florida Gateway College
Lake City, Florida
44
45
46
47
48
Macomb Community College crest
Macomb Community College
Warren, Michigan
49
50
East Los Angeles College crest
East Los Angeles College
Monterey Park, California

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

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