2023 Best Value Colleges for Criminal Justice (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania
22
Ranked Colleges
945
Degrees Awarded
$16,600
Avg Net Price*
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.
In 2020-2021, 32,891 people earned their degree in criminal justice, making the major the 27th most popular in the United States.
Across Pennsylvania, there were 945 criminal justice graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 22 colleges that offered 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.
To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the criminal justice program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
More Ways to Rank Criminal Justice Schools
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 in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that 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 when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.
Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k.
Top 22 Best Value Colleges for Criminal Justice (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Lehigh Carbon Community College. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k. Lehigh Carbon Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Schnecksville, Pennsylvania. It awarded 14 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at LCCC, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend LCCC is $4,307 for Pennsylvania Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Criminal Justice at LCCC
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Waynesburg University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k. Waynesburg is a private not-for-profit institution located in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 36 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Waynesburg, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Waynesburg University is $17,095 for pennsylvania criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Waynesburg University Criminal Justice Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Harrisburg Area Community College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s criminal justice degrees to 60 students in 2020-2021.
HACC also took the #9 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend HACC is $9,741 for Pennsylvania Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Harrisburg Area Community College Criminal Justice Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Pennsylvania Highlands Community College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k. Pennsylvania Highlands is a small public school situated in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. It awarded 13 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
Pennsylvania Highlands not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend Pennsylvania Highlands is $5,437 for Pennsylvania Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Criminal Justice Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend York College of Pennsylvania. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k. York College of Pennsylvania is a small school located in York, Pennsylvania that handed out 52 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
YCP also took the #3 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend YCP is $17,617 for Pennsylvania Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.4% 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 YCP
University of Pittsburgh - Greensburg came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Greensburg, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s criminal justice degrees to 21 students in 2020-2021.
Pitt Greensburg also took the #14 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Pittsburgh - Greensburg is $9,777 for pennsylvania criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Pitt Greensburg Criminal Justice Report
Lock Haven University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. LHU is a small school located in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania that handed out 67 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at LHU, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Lock Haven University is $16,889 for pennsylvania criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Criminal Justice at Lock Haven University
University of Pittsburgh - Bradford ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Bradford, Pennsylvania, this small public school handed out 18 degrees to qualified ’s criminal justice students in 2020-2021.
Pitt Bradford not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The estimated yearly cost for Pitt Bradford is $10,311 for pennsylvania criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% 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 University of Pittsburgh - Bradford
With a ranking of #9, Marywood University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 12 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Marywood, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Marywood University is $18,249 for Pennsylvania Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Criminal Justice at Marywood University
With a ranking of #10, Mansfield University of Pennsylvania did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. Mansfield University is a small school located in Mansfield, Pennsylvania that handed out 29 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Mansfield University, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $9,043 for Pennsylvania Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Mansfield University of Pennsylvania.
Full Mansfield University of Pennsylvania Criminal Justice Report
Clarion University of Pennsylvania landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Clarion, Pennsylvania, this small public school handed out 44 diplomas to qualified ’s criminal justice students in 2020-2021.
Clarion University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend Clarion University of Pennsylvania is $15,501 for Pennsylvania Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Clarion University Criminal Justice Report
With a ranking of #12, Point Park University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. Point Park University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It awarded 8 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
Point Park also made our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #12. The estimated yearly cost for Point Park is $17,036 for Pennsylvania Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% 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 Point Park University
Robert Morris University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. Robert Morris University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Moon Township, Pennsylvania. It awarded 25 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our pennsylvania criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k list, RMU has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $22,439 for Pennsylvania Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend RMU.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Criminal Justice at RMU
Mercyhurst University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #14. Mercyhurst University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Erie, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 11 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our pennsylvania criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k list, Mercyhurst has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $23,922 for pennsylvania criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Mercyhurst University.
Read full report on Criminal Justice at Mercyhurst
With a ranking of #15, University of Pittsburgh - Johnstown did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. Pitt Johnstown is located in Johnstown, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 10 ’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.
Pitt Johnstown not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend Pitt Johnstown is $10,570 for Pennsylvania Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Pitt Johnstown Criminal Justice Report
Delaware Valley University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #16. Located in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 24 diplomas to qualified ’s criminal justice students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our pennsylvania criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k list, DelVal has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $22,136 for pennsylvania criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend DelVal.
Read more about Criminal Justice at DelVal
Alvernia University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #17. This small school is located in Reading, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 35 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
Alvernia not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The estimated yearly cost for Alvernia is $26,553 for Pennsylvania Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Alvernia Criminal Justice Report
Chestnut Hill College landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 20 diplomas to qualified ’s criminal justice students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at CHC, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend CHC is $19,439 for pennsylvania criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Criminal Justice at Chestnut Hill College
Strayer University - Pennsylvania came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Strayer University - Pennsylvania is a private for-profit institution located in Trevose, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 31 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Strayer University - Pennsylvania, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $24,051 for Pennsylvania Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Strayer University - Pennsylvania.
Read more about Criminal Justice at Strayer University - Pennsylvania
Thiel College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #20. Located in Greenville, Pennsylvania, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 8 diplomas to qualified ’s criminal justice students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Thiel College, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $19,741 for pennsylvania criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Thiel College.
Full Thiel College Criminal Justice Report
Widener University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Chester, Pennsylvania, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 16 diplomas to qualified ’s criminal justice students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our pennsylvania criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k list, Widener has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Widener University is $29,378 for Pennsylvania Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
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%.
Full Widener University Criminal Justice Report
South Hills School of Business & Technology came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. State College, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out ’s criminal justice degrees to 21 students in 2020-2021.
South Hills School of Business & Technology also made our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #22. The yearly cost to attend South Hills School of Business & Technology is $15,368 for pennsylvania criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read full report on Criminal Justice at South Hills School of Business & Technology
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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
- *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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