Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Find Schools Near

2022 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice (With Aid)

205 Ranked Colleges
12,546 Degrees Awarded
$4,800 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

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 Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 205 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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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 an Associate For Those Getting Aid” 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. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid.

Top 25 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice (With Aid)

#1

Golden West College

Huntington Beach, California
#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Golden West College. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid. Golden West College is located in Huntington Beach, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 97 associates’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

Golden West College also took the #1 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $2,862 for Associate Degree Criminal Justice students with aid per year to attend Golden West College.

Full Golden West College Criminal Justice Report

#13 in overall quality

Out of the 205 schools in the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Eastern Gateway Community College landed the #2 spot on the list. Steubenville, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s criminal justice degrees to 368 students in 2019-2020.

Eastern Gateway Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Eastern Gateway Community College is $3,340 for associate degree criminal justice students with aid.

Full Eastern Gateway Community College Criminal Justice Report

#3

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 #3 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid. Nassau Community College is a fairly large school located in Garden City, New York that handed out 183 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Nassau Community College also took the #3 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $4,594 for Associate Degree Criminal Justice students with aid per year to attend Nassau Community College.

Full Nassau Community College Criminal Justice Report

#16 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Hillsborough Community College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid. Located in Tampa, Florida, this fairly large public school handed out 123 diplomas to qualified associates’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

HCC also made our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” list, coming in at #16. The estimated yearly cost for HCC is $3,238 for associate degree criminal justice students with aid.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Hillsborough Community College

#5

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 #5 on our 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid list. BCC is a public institution located in Bronx, New York. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 202 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

BCC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for BCC is $4,069 for Associate Degree Criminal Justice students with aid.

Read more about Criminal Justice at BCC

#6

Orange County Community College

Middletown, New York
#12 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, Orange County Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid list. SUNY Orange is a medium-sized public school situated in Middletown, New York. It awarded 40 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SUNY Orange, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Orange County Community College is $4,660 for Associate Degree Criminal Justice students with aid.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at SUNY Orange

#4 in overall quality

Queensborough Community College landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid ranking. Queensborough Community College is a public institution located in Bayside, New York. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 244 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

QCC also took the #4 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Queensborough Community College is $5,050 for associate degree criminal justice students with aid.

Full Queensborough Community College Criminal Justice Report

#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 Getting Aid list. Buffalo, New York is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s criminal justice degrees to 85 students in 2019-2020.

Erie Community College also took the #19 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Erie Community College is $5,131 for Associate Degree Criminal Justice students with aid.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Erie Community College

#9

Kingsborough Community College

Brooklyn, New York
#6 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, Kingsborough Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in Brooklyn, New York, and it awarded 207 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

KCC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend KCC is $5,092 for Associate Degree Criminal Justice students with aid.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Kingsborough Community College

#10

Raritan Valley Community College

Branchburg, New Jersey
#15 in overall quality

Raritan Valley Community College landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Branchburg, New Jersey, and it awarded 76 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our associate degree criminal justice students with aid list, RVCC has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend RVCC is $6,917 for Associate Degree Criminal Justice students with aid.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Raritan Valley Community College

#11

Oakland Community College

Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
Top 20% in overall quality

Oakland Community College landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid ranking. Oakland Community College is located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 20 associates’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

Oakland Community College also claimed a top spot on our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category. The yearly cost to attend Oakland Community College is $2,825 for associate degree criminal justice students with aid.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Oakland Community College

#12

St Petersburg College

Clearwater, Florida

St Petersburg College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #12. SPC is a large school located in Clearwater, Florida that handed out 29 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for SPC is $3,226 for Associate Degree Criminal Justice students with aid.

Read more about Criminal Justice at St Petersburg College

#13

Rockland Community College

Suffern, New York
#2 in overall quality

Rockland Community College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid list. Rockland Community College is a public institution located in Suffern, New York. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 66 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Rockland Community College, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Rockland Community College is $10,271 for Associate Degree Criminal Justice students with aid.

Full Rockland Community College Criminal Justice Report

#14

LaGuardia Community College

Long Island City, New York
#5 in overall quality

LaGuardia Community College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid ranking. LaGuardia is a public institution located in Long Island City, New York. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 286 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

LaGuardia not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend LaGuardia Community College is $6,766 for associate degree criminal justice students with aid.

Full LaGuardia Criminal Justice Report

#15

Valencia College

Orlando, Florida
Top 15% in overall quality

Valencia College landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid ranking. Valencia College is a large public school situated in Orlando, Florida. It awarded 60 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on this list, Valencia College is in the top on our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. It costs about $5,205 for Associate Degree Criminal Justice students with aid per year to attend Valencia College.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Valencia College

#16

Union County College

Cranford, New Jersey
#24 in overall quality

Union County College landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid ranking. Cranford, New Jersey is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s criminal justice degrees to 89 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Union County College, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Union County College is $8,245 for Associate Degree Criminal Justice students with aid.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Union County College

#17

Los Medanos College

Pittsburg, California
#11 in overall quality

Los Medanos College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid 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.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Los Medanos, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $5,162 for Associate Degree Criminal Justice students with aid per year to attend Los Medanos College.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Los Medanos

#18

Ventura College

Ventura, California
Top 25% in overall quality

Ventura College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Ventura, California, this fairly large public school awarded 146 degrees to qualified associates’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Ventura College is $1,514 for associate degree criminal justice students with aid.

Full Ventura College Criminal Justice Report

#18

Santa Rosa Junior College

Santa Rosa, California
#8 in overall quality

Santa Rosa Junior College landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid ranking. Santa Rosa Junior College is located in Santa Rosa, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 70 associates’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SRJC, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $5,782 for Associate Degree Criminal Justice students with aid per year to attend SRJC.

Read more about Criminal Justice at SRJC

#20

Indian River State College

Fort Pierce, Florida

Indian River State College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #20. Indian River State College is located in Fort Pierce, Florida and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 48 associates’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for Indian River State College is $2,003 for Associate Degree Criminal Justice students with aid.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Indian River State College

#21

Henry Ford College

Dearborn, Michigan

Henry Ford College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid list. Henry Ford College is a fairly large public school situated in Dearborn, Michigan. It awarded 33 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Henry Ford College is $3,182 for associate degree criminal justice students with aid.

Full Henry Ford College Criminal Justice Report

#22

Amarillo College

Amarillo, Texas
Top 15% in overall quality

Amarillo College landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid ranking. Amarillo, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s criminal justice degrees to 52 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Amarillo College is also in the top of our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” ranking. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Amarillo College is $5,578 for associate degree criminal justice students with aid.

Full Amarillo College Criminal Justice Report

#23

Hostos Community College

Bronx, New York
#21 in overall quality

Hostos Community College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid list. This medium-sized school is located in Bronx, New York, and it awarded 123 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Hostos not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Hostos is $5,262 for Associate Degree Criminal Justice students with aid.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Hostos

#24

Santa Ana College

Santa Ana, California
Top 20% in overall quality

With a ranking of #24, Santa Ana College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid list. SAC 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.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, SAC is also in the top of our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” ranking. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend SAC is $3,801 for associate degree criminal justice students with aid.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at SAC

#25

Butte College

Oroville, California
#9 in overall quality

With a ranking of #25, Butte College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid list. Oroville, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s criminal justice degrees to 107 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our associate degree criminal justice students with aid list, Butte College has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $5,070 for Associate Degree Criminal Justice students with aid per year to attend Butte College.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Butte College

Rest of the Best 31 in Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate For Those Getting Aid

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

#26

South Plains College

Levelland, Texas
#27

College of the Sequoias

Visalia, California
#28

Sacramento City College

Sacramento, California
#29

Fresno City College

Fresno, California
#31

Cerritos College

Norwalk, 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.

Featured Criminal Justice Administration Schools

Find Schools Near You