2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice (Income $0-$30k)
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.
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 bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 14,523 criminal justice graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,303 and $24,501 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 227 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.
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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
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More Ways to Rank Criminal Justice Schools
The criminal justice school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $0-$30k”.
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. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $0-$30k
The colleges and universities below are the best for bachelor’s degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice (Income $0-$30k)
Out of the 227 schools in the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, John Jay College of Criminal Justice landed the #1 spot on the list. New York, New York is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s criminal justice degrees to 1,193 students in 2019-2020.
John Jay did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for John Jay is $771 for bachelor’s degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $0-$30k. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is a public institution located in Edinburg, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 424 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
On top of its placing in this ranking, UT Rio Grande Valley also did well on our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It costs about $2,993 for Bachelor’s Degree Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UT Rio Grande Valley.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Out of the 227 schools in the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Texas A & M University - Central Texas landed the #3 spot on the list. Texas A & M University - Central Texas is a small public school situated in Killeen, Texas. It awarded 35 bachelors’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on this list, Texas A & M University - Central Texas is in the top on our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis.
Read full report on Criminal Justice at Texas A & M University - Central Texas
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Michigan State University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in East Lansing, Michigan, this large public school awarded 139 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.
Michigan State also made our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #3. It costs about $6,686 for bachelor’s degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Michigan State.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Citadel Military College of South Carolina. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Charleston, South Carolina, this small public school awarded 64 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.
The Citadel not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It costs about $7,296 for bachelor’s degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend The Citadel.
The student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Ferris State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. Located in Big Rapids, Michigan, this fairly large public school awarded 46 degrees to qualified bachelors’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.
Ferris also made our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #24. The yearly cost to attend Ferris State University is $7,207 for Bachelor’s Degree Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
University of Georgia landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Georgia is a large public school situated in Athens, Georgia. It awarded 64 bachelors’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.
UGA also made our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #4. It costs about $7,541 for Bachelor’s Degree Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UGA.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is a large school located in Indianapolis, Indiana that handed out 1 bachelors’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on this list, IUPUI is in the top on our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category. The yearly cost to attend IUPUI is $5,052 for Bachelor’s Degree Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
Lake Superior State University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan, and it awarded 42 bachelors’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $7,067 for bachelor’s degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Lake Superior State University.
Read more about Criminal Justice at Lake Superior State University
Grand Valley State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. GVSU is a large public school situated in Allendale, Michigan. It awarded 165 bachelors’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.
GVSU also took the #16 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Grand Valley State University is $11,578 for bachelor’s degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low student loan default rate of 3.7% 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%.
Franklin University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Columbus, Ohio, and it awarded 20 bachelors’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Franklin University is $11,328 for Bachelor’s Degree Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
University of Mississippi ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Ole Miss is a large public school situated in University, Mississippi. It awarded 139 bachelors’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $9,455 for bachelor’s degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Ole Miss.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.
Dalton State College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. DSC is a small school located in Dalton, Georgia that handed out 31 bachelors’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend DSC is $5,150 for Bachelor’s Degree Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a ranking of #14, Indiana University - East did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Indiana University - East is a small public school situated in Richmond, Indiana. It awarded 47 bachelors’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $3,622 for bachelor’s degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend IU East.
Read full report on Criminal Justice at Indiana University - East
University of Massachusetts - Lowell came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UMass Lowell is a public institution located in Lowell, Massachusetts. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 209 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our bachelor’s degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k list, UMass Lowell has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $11,560 for bachelor’s degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Massachusetts - Lowell.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Middle Tennessee State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #16. Middle Tennessee State University is a large public school situated in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. It awarded 118 bachelors’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for Middle Tennessee State University is $8,919 for Bachelor’s Degree Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Criminal Justice at Middle Tennessee State University
With a ranking of #17, Oakland University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Rochester Hills, Michigan, and it awarded 3 bachelors’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Oakland University is $7,490 for Bachelor’s Degree Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
Fairleigh Dickinson University - Metropolitan Campus came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. FDU is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Teaneck, New Jersey. It awarded 29 bachelors’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for Fairleigh Dickinson University - Metropolitan Campus is $10,189 for bachelor’s degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Fairleigh Dickinson University - Metropolitan Campus Criminal Justice Report
Utah Valley University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UVU is a large public school situated in Orem, Utah. It awarded 96 bachelors’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $7,334 for Bachelor’s Degree Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UVU.
With a ranking of #20, The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and it awarded 103 bachelors’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $8,108 for bachelor’s degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UT Chattanooga.
Read more about Criminal Justice at The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga
University of Phoenix - Arizona came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Tempe, Arizona, and it awarded 742 bachelors’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.
UOPX - Arizona not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for UOPX - Arizona is $12,601 for bachelor’s degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
St. Joseph’s College - New York came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. SJC is located in Brooklyn, New York and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 51 bachelors’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on this list, SJC is in the top on our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The yearly cost to attend St. Joseph’s College - New York is $12,605 for bachelor’s degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Criminal Justice at St. Joseph’s College - New York
Northeastern State University landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. NSU is a medium-sized school located in Tahlequah, Oklahoma that handed out 105 bachelors’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for NSU is $7,614 for Bachelor’s Degree Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
University of South Carolina - Columbia came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UofSC is a public institution located in Columbia, South Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 186 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
UofSC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of South Carolina - Columbia is $12,426 for bachelor’s degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low student loan default rate of 3.3% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
Full University of South Carolina - Columbia Criminal Justice Report
Western Illinois University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. WIU is a medium-sized public school situated in Macomb, Illinois. It awarded 291 bachelors’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at WIU, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for WIU is $13,942 for Bachelor’s Degree Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
Rest of the Best 36 in Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $0-$30k
Not only did these schools make the top 36 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
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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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