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2022 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice (Income $0-$30k)

205 Ranked Colleges
12,546 Degrees Awarded
$3,400 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2019-2020, 33,568 people earned their degree in criminal justice, making the major the 32nd most popular in the United States.

At the associate degree level specifically, there were 12,546 criminal justice graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,082 and $17,678 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 205 colleges that offer a degree in criminal justice. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality criminal justice programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the criminal justice program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

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

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k.

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

#1

Golden West College

Huntington Beach, California
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Golden West College. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Huntington Beach, California, and it awarded 97 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our associate degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k list, Golden West College has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Golden West College is $1,941 for Associate Degree Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Golden West College

#2

Nassau Community College

Garden City, New York
#3 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Nassau Community College. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k. Nassau Community College is located in Garden City, New York and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 183 associates’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our associate degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k list, Nassau Community College has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Nassau Community College is $2,007 for Associate Degree Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Nassau Community College

#3

Orange County Community College

Middletown, New York
#12 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Orange County Community College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k. SUNY Orange is a medium-sized school located in Middletown, New York that handed out 40 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our associate degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k list, SUNY Orange has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend SUNY Orange is $1,179 for Associate Degree Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Orange County Community College

#4

Bronx Community College

Bronx, New York
#7 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Bronx Community College. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k list. BCC is located in Bronx, New York and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 202 associates’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our associate degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k list, BCC has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Bronx Community College is $3,550 for associate degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Bronx Community College

#13 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Eastern Gateway Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Steubenville, Ohio, this large public school awarded 368 diplomas to qualified associates’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

Eastern Gateway Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Eastern Gateway Community College is $2,845 for Associate Degree Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Eastern Gateway Community College Criminal Justice Report

#16 in overall quality

Hillsborough Community College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k list. Hillsborough Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Tampa, Florida. It awarded 123 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at HCC, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend HCC is $3,203 for Associate Degree Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Hillsborough Community College

#7

Ventura College

Ventura, California
Top 25% in overall quality

Ventura College landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Ventura, California, and it awarded 146 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $506 for associate degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Ventura College.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Ventura College

#8

Erie Community College

Buffalo, New York
#19 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, Erie Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in Buffalo, New York, and it awarded 85 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Erie Community College also took the #19 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Erie Community College is $3,146 for associate degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Erie Community College

#4 in overall quality

Queensborough Community College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Bayside, New York, and it awarded 244 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at QCC, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Queensborough Community College is $4,070 for associate degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Queensborough Community College

#10

Oakland Community College

Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
Top 20% in overall quality

Oakland Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. This fairly large school is located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, and it awarded 20 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

On top of its placing in this ranking, Oakland Community College also did well on our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” list. It costs about $-51 for Associate Degree Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Oakland Community College. The negative number means the student will receive more financial aid on average than it costs to attend the school.

Full Oakland Community College Criminal Justice Report

#11

St Petersburg College

Clearwater, Florida

With a ranking of #11, St Petersburg College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Clearwater, Florida, this large public school awarded 29 degrees to qualified associates’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for SPC is $1,454 for Associate Degree Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Criminal Justice at SPC

#12

Kingsborough Community College

Brooklyn, New York
#6 in overall quality

Kingsborough Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. KCC is a public institution located in Brooklyn, New York. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 207 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at KCC, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend KCC is $4,369 for associate degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Kingsborough Community College Criminal Justice Report

#13

Raritan Valley Community College

Branchburg, New Jersey
#15 in overall quality

Raritan Valley Community College landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Branchburg, New Jersey is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s criminal justice degrees to 76 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at RVCC, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Raritan Valley Community College is $5,065 for associate degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at RVCC

#14

Butte College

Oroville, California
#9 in overall quality

Butte College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Butte College is a medium-sized public school situated in Oroville, California. It awarded 107 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Butte College also made our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” list, coming in at #9. It costs about $4,057 for associate degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Butte College.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Butte College

#15

Santa Rosa Junior College

Santa Rosa, California
#8 in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, Santa Rosa Junior College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k list. SRJC is a public institution located in Santa Rosa, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 70 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

SRJC also made our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” list, coming in at #8. It costs about $5,026 for Associate Degree Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Santa Rosa Junior College.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Santa Rosa Junior College

#16

Los Medanos College

Pittsburg, California
#11 in overall quality

Los Medanos College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Pittsburg, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s criminal justice degrees to 67 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our associate degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k list, Los Medanos has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Los Medanos College is $4,220 for associate degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Los Medanos College

#17

Cerritos College

Norwalk, California

Cerritos College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Cerritos College is a large school located in Norwalk, California that handed out 90 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Cerritos College is $3,407 for Associate Degree Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Cerritos College

#18

Santa Ana College

Santa Ana, California
Top 20% in overall quality

Santa Ana College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Santa Ana College is a public institution located in Santa Ana, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 93 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

SAC excels when it comes to criminal justice quality. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for Santa Ana College is $3,801 for associate degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at SAC

#19

West Valley College

Saratoga, California
Top 25% in overall quality

West Valley College landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Saratoga, California, and it awarded 55 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $2,203 for Associate Degree Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend West Valley College.

Read more about Criminal Justice at West Valley College

#20

Rockland Community College

Suffern, New York
#2 in overall quality

Rockland Community College landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Suffern, New York is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s criminal justice degrees to 66 students in 2019-2020.

Rockland Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Rockland Community College is $8,124 for associate degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Rockland Community College Criminal Justice Report

#21

College of the Sequoias

Visalia, California

College of the Sequoias did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #21. College of the Sequoias is a fairly large school located in Visalia, California that handed out 103 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend College of the Sequoias is $590 for associate degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full College of the Sequoias Criminal Justice Report

#22

LaGuardia Community College

Long Island City, New York
#5 in overall quality

LaGuardia Community College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Long Island City, New York, this fairly large public school handed out 286 degrees to qualified associates’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

LaGuardia also took the #5 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for LaGuardia is $6,135 for associate degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at LaGuardia Community College

#23

Union County College

Cranford, New Jersey
#24 in overall quality

Union County College landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Union County College is a medium-sized school located in Cranford, New Jersey that handed out 89 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Union County College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #24 on our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” list. It costs about $8,409 for associate degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Union County College.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Union County College

#24

Indian River State College

Fort Pierce, Florida

Indian River State College landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Indian River State College is a public institution located in Fort Pierce, Florida. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 48 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $1,402 for associate degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Indian River State College.

Full Indian River State College Criminal Justice Report

#25

Sacramento City College

Sacramento, California
#25 in overall quality

Sacramento City College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #25. This large school is located in Sacramento, California, and it awarded 156 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Sacramento City not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #25 on our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” list. It costs about $4,126 for Associate Degree Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Sacramento City.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Sacramento City College

Rest of the Best 31 in Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate For Those Making $0-$30k

Not only did these schools make the top 31 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

#26

Henry Ford College

Dearborn, Michigan
#29

Fresno City College

Fresno, California
#30

Moreno Valley College

Moreno Valley, California
#31

Citrus College

Glendora, California

Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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