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2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate

206 Ranked Colleges
12,546 Degrees Awarded
$7,100 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. 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” 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.

This year’s “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate” ranking analyzed 206 colleges that offered 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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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 an Associate”.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most 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

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

Top 25 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice

#13 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Eastern Gateway Community College. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate. Located in Steubenville, Ohio, this large public school awarded 368 degrees to qualified associates’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

Eastern Gateway Community College also made our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” list, coming in at #13. The estimated yearly cost for Eastern Gateway Community College is $3,340 for Associate Degree Criminal Justice students.

Full Eastern Gateway Community College Criminal Justice Report

#2

South Plains College

Levelland, Texas
Top 20% in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend South Plains College. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate. South Plains College is a medium-sized public school situated in Levelland, Texas. It awarded 46 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on this list, South Plains College is in the top 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. The estimated yearly cost for South Plains College is $7,600 for Associate Degree Criminal Justice students.

Read more about Criminal Justice at South Plains College

#3

Rockland Community College

Suffern, New York
#2 in overall quality

Out of the 206 schools in the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate that were part of this year’s ranking, Rockland Community College landed the #3 spot on the list. Rockland Community College is a medium-sized school located in Suffern, New York that handed out 66 associates’s criminal justice degrees 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 estimated yearly cost for Rockland Community College is $10,271 for Associate Degree Criminal Justice students.

Full Rockland Community College Criminal Justice Report

#4

Amarillo College

Amarillo, Texas
Top 15% in overall quality

Out of the 206 schools in the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate that were part of this year’s ranking, Amarillo College landed the #4 spot on the list. Amarillo College is a medium-sized public school situated in Amarillo, Texas. It awarded 52 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on this list, Amarillo 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. The estimated yearly cost for Amarillo College is $5,578 for Associate Degree Criminal Justice students.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Amarillo College

#5

Raritan Valley Community College

Branchburg, New Jersey
#15 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Raritan Valley Community College. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate. This medium-sized school is located in Branchburg, New Jersey, and it awarded 76 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

RVCC also took the #15 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Raritan Valley Community College is $6,917 for associate degree criminal justice students.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Raritan Valley Community College

#6

Golden West College

Huntington Beach, California
#1 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, Golden West College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate list. Golden West College is a fairly large school located in Huntington Beach, California that handed out 97 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our associate degree criminal justice students 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 $2,862 for associate degree criminal justice students.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Golden West College

#7

Georgia Military College

Milledgeville, Georgia
Top 15% in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, Georgia Military College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate list. Georgia Military College is a medium-sized public school situated in Milledgeville, Georgia. It awarded 104 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Georgia Military College excels when it comes to criminal justice quality. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” list. It costs about $9,792 for Associate Degree Criminal Justice students per year to attend Georgia Military College.

Full Georgia Military College Criminal Justice Report

#8

Oakland Community College

Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
Top 20% in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, Oakland Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate list. Located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, this fairly large public school awarded 20 diplomas to qualified associates’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

Oakland Community College excels when it comes to criminal justice quality. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” list. It costs about $2,825 for Associate Degree Criminal Justice students per year to attend Oakland Community College.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Oakland Community College

#16 in overall quality

Hillsborough Community College landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate ranking. Tampa, Florida is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s criminal justice degrees to 123 students in 2019-2020.

HCC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend HCC is $3,238 for Associate Degree Criminal Justice students.

Full HCC Criminal Justice Report

#10

Orange County Community College

Middletown, New York
#12 in overall quality

Orange County Community College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate list. This medium-sized school is located in Middletown, New York, and it awarded 40 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

SUNY Orange also took the #12 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Orange County Community College is $4,660 for associate degree criminal justice students.

Read more about Criminal Justice at SUNY Orange

#11

Erie Community College

Buffalo, New York
#19 in overall quality

Erie Community College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate 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 not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Erie Community College is $5,131 for Associate Degree Criminal Justice students.

Full Erie Community College Criminal Justice Report

#12

Massachusetts Bay Community College

Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts
#17 in overall quality

Massachusetts Bay Community College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate list. MassBay Community College is located in Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 47 associates’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our associate degree criminal justice students list, MassBay Community College has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $9,376 for associate degree criminal justice students per year to attend Massachusetts Bay Community College.

Read more about Criminal Justice at MassBay Community College

Top 25% in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, College of Western Idaho did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate list. College of Western Idaho is located in Nampa, Idaho and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 associates’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for CWI is $6,711 for associate degree criminal justice students.

Read more about Criminal Justice at College of Western Idaho

#14

Union County College

Cranford, New Jersey
#24 in overall quality

Union County College landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate ranking. Located in Cranford, New Jersey, this medium-sized public school handed out 89 diplomas to qualified associates’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

Union County College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #24 on our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Union County College is $8,245 for associate degree criminal justice students.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Union County College

#15

Butte College

Oroville, California
#9 in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, Butte College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate list. Located in Oroville, California, this medium-sized public school awarded 107 degrees to qualified associates’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

Butte College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Butte College is $5,070 for associate degree criminal justice students.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Butte College

#16

Nassau Community College

Garden City, New York
#3 in overall quality

Nassau Community College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate ranking. Nassau Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Garden City, New York. It awarded 183 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Nassau Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Nassau Community College is $4,594 for Associate Degree Criminal Justice students.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Nassau Community College

#17

Macomb Community College

Warren, Michigan
Top 25% in overall quality

With a ranking of #17, Macomb Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate list. This fairly large school is located in Warren, Michigan, and it awarded 19 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $8,724 for Associate Degree Criminal Justice students per year to attend Macomb Community College.

Full Macomb Community College Criminal Justice Report

#18

Queensborough Community College

Bayside, New York
#4 in overall quality

Queensborough Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate ranking, coming in at #18. This fairly large school is located in Bayside, New York, and it awarded 244 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

QCC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” list. It costs about $5,050 for associate degree criminal justice students per year to attend Queensborough Community College.

Full Queensborough Community College Criminal Justice Report

#19

Valencia College

Orlando, Florida
Top 15% in overall quality

With a ranking of #19, Valencia College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate list. Orlando, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s criminal justice degrees to 60 students in 2019-2020.

Valencia College also claimed a top spot on our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category. The yearly cost to attend Valencia College is $5,205 for associate degree criminal justice students.

Full Valencia College Criminal Justice Report

#20

Santa Rosa Junior College

Santa Rosa, California
#8 in overall quality

Santa Rosa Junior College landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate ranking. Located in Santa Rosa, California, this fairly large public school handed out 70 degrees to qualified associates’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

SRJC also made our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” list, coming in at #8. The estimated yearly cost for Santa Rosa Junior College is $5,782 for associate degree criminal justice students.

Read more about Criminal Justice at SRJC

#21

Bronx Community College

Bronx, New York
#7 in overall quality

Bronx Community College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate ranking. 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.

BCC also made our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” list, coming in at #7. The estimated yearly cost for BCC is $4,069 for associate degree criminal justice students.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Bronx Community College

#22 in overall quality

With a ranking of #22, Hudson Valley Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate list. Hudson Valley Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Troy, New York. It awarded 104 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at HVCC, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend HVCC is $8,548 for associate degree criminal justice students.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at HVCC

#23

Quincy College

Quincy, Massachusetts
#18 in overall quality

Quincy College landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate ranking. Quincy College is a public institution located in Quincy, Massachusetts. The school has a small population, and it awarded 41 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Quincy College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Quincy College is $15,758 for associate degree criminal justice students.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Quincy College

#24

Thomas University

Thomasville, Georgia
#14 in overall quality

Thomas University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate ranking, coming in at #24. Thomasville, Georgia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out associates’s criminal justice degrees to 26 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our associate degree criminal justice students list, TU has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend TU is $23,105 for associate degree criminal justice students.

Full TU Criminal Justice Report

#25

Antelope Valley College

Lancaster, California
Top 25% in overall quality

Antelope Valley College landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate ranking. Lancaster, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s criminal justice degrees to 170 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Antelope Valley College is $4,775 for associate degree criminal justice students.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Antelope Valley College

Rest of the Best 31 in Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate

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

#27

Indian River State College

Fort Pierce, Florida
#28

Harrisburg Area Community College

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
#30

Northern Oklahoma College

Tonkawa, Oklahoma

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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