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2022 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice in California

37 Ranked Colleges
6,637 Degrees Awarded
$5,600 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in California

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 for an Associate in California” ranking - to help you make that decision.

Criminal Justice is the 32nd most popular major in the country with 33,568 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

Across California, there were 8,875 criminal justice graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 6,637 criminal justice graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,451 and $19,634 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in California” ranking, we looked at 37 colleges that offer a degree in criminal justice. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great criminal justice programs and 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

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 in California”.

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. 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 in California

The colleges and universities below are the best for california associate degree criminal justice students.

Top 25 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice in California

#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 in California. This fairly large school is located in Huntington Beach, California, and it awarded 97 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Golden West College, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $2,862 for california associate degree criminal justice students per year to attend Golden West College.

Full Golden West College Criminal Justice Report

#2

Butte College

Oroville, California
#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Butte College. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in California list. Butte College is a medium-sized school located in Oroville, California that handed out 107 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Butte College also made our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #3. The estimated yearly cost for Butte College is $5,070 for california associate degree criminal justice students.

Full Butte College Criminal Justice Report

#3

Santa Rosa Junior College

Santa Rosa, California
#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Santa Rosa Junior College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in California. 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.

SRJC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $5,782 for California Associate Degree Criminal Justice students per year to attend Santa Rosa Junior College.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Santa Rosa Junior College

#4

Antelope Valley College

Lancaster, California
#14 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Antelope Valley College. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in California list. Located in Lancaster, California, this fairly large public school handed out 170 degrees to qualified associates’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

Antelope Valley College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Antelope Valley College is $4,775 for california associate degree criminal justice students.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Antelope Valley College

#5

Los Medanos College

Pittsburg, California
#4 in overall quality

Out of the 37 schools in the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Los Medanos College landed the #5 spot on the list. Los Medanos is a public institution located in Pittsburg, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 67 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Los Medanos also took the #4 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Los Medanos College is $5,162 for california associate degree criminal justice students.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Los Medanos

#6

Sacramento City College

Sacramento, California
#5 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, Sacramento City College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in California list. Sacramento City is located in Sacramento, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 156 associates’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our california associate degree criminal justice students list, Sacramento City has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Sacramento City is $4,835 for California Associate Degree Criminal Justice students.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Sacramento City

#7

Evergreen Valley College

San Jose, California
#9 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, Evergreen Valley College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in California list. Located in San Jose, California, this medium-sized public school awarded 52 diplomas to qualified associates’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Evergreen Valley College, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Evergreen Valley College is $10,701 for California Associate Degree Criminal Justice students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Evergreen Valley College

#8

Santa Ana College

Santa Ana, California
#6 in overall quality

Santa Ana College landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in California ranking. SAC is a large public school situated in Santa Ana, California. It awarded 93 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

SAC also made our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #6. The yearly cost to attend Santa Ana College is $3,801 for California Associate Degree Criminal Justice students.

Read more about Criminal Justice at SAC

#9

San Bernardino Valley College

San Bernardino, California

San Bernardino Valley College landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in California ranking. San Bernardino Valley College is a fairly large school located in San Bernardino, California that handed out 81 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $7,391 for California Associate Degree Criminal Justice students per year to attend San Bernardino Valley College.

Full San Bernardino Valley College Criminal Justice Report

#10

East Los Angeles College

Monterey Park, California
#7 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, East Los Angeles College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in California list. East Los Angeles College is a public institution located in Monterey Park, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 340 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

East Los Angeles College also took the #7 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend East Los Angeles College is $9,570 for california associate degree criminal justice students.

Read more about Criminal Justice at East Los Angeles College

#11

El Camino College

Torrance, California
#8 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, El Camino College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in California list. El Camino College is a large school located in Torrance, California that handed out 111 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

El Camino College also took the #8 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for El Camino College is $9,434 for California Associate Degree Criminal Justice students.

The low student loan default rate of 1.4% 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 more about Criminal Justice at El Camino College

#12

Ventura College

Ventura, California
#15 in overall quality

Ventura College landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in California ranking. Located in Ventura, California, this fairly large public school handed out 146 degrees to qualified associates’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california associate degree criminal justice students list, Ventura College has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Ventura College is $1,514 for california associate degree criminal justice students.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Ventura College

#13

College of the Canyons

Santa Clarita, California
#11 in overall quality

College of the Canyons came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in California ranking. College of the Canyons is a large school located in Santa Clarita, California that handed out 87 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at College of the Canyons, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for College of the Canyons is $4,088 for California Associate Degree Criminal Justice students.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at College of the Canyons

#14

Victor Valley College

Victorville, California
#16 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, Victor Valley College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in California list. Located in Victorville, California, this fairly large public school awarded 76 degrees to qualified associates’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

Victor Valley College also made our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #16. The yearly cost to attend Victor Valley College is $8,504 for California Associate Degree Criminal Justice students.

Full Victor Valley College Criminal Justice Report

#15

Rio Hondo College

Whittier, California
#12 in overall quality

Rio Hondo College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in California ranking. Located in Whittier, California, this fairly large public school awarded 127 diplomas to qualified associates’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california associate degree criminal justice students list, RHCCD has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend RHCCD is $5,487 for California Associate Degree Criminal Justice students.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at RHCCD

#16

West Valley College

Saratoga, California
#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, West Valley College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in California list. West Valley College is located in Saratoga, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 55 associates’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

West Valley College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $3,791 for california associate degree criminal justice students per year to attend West Valley College.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at West Valley College

#17

Citrus College

Glendora, California
#19 in overall quality

Citrus College landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in California ranking. Located in Glendora, California, this fairly large public school awarded 163 diplomas to qualified associates’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

Citrus College also took the #19 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $2,751 for California Associate Degree Criminal Justice students per year to attend Citrus College.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Citrus College

#18

Gavilan College

Gilroy, California
#20 in overall quality

Gavilan College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in California ranking. Gavilan College is located in Gilroy, California and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 37 associates’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

Gavilan College also made our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #20. It costs about $4,784 for California Associate Degree Criminal Justice students per year to attend Gavilan College.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Gavilan College

#19

West Los Angeles College

Culver City, California
#17 in overall quality

West Los Angeles College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in California ranking, coming in at #19. Culver City, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s criminal justice degrees to 94 students in 2019-2020.

West LA College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $7,084 for california associate degree criminal justice students per year to attend West Los Angeles College.

The low student loan default rate of 2.4% 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%.

Full West LA College Criminal Justice Report

#20

Coastline Community College

Fountain Valley, California
#18 in overall quality

Coastline Community College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in California ranking. Coastline Community College is a medium-sized school located in Fountain Valley, California that handed out 23 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Coastline Community College also took the #18 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Coastline Community College is $7,389 for California Associate Degree Criminal Justice students.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Coastline Community College

#21

Moreno Valley College

Moreno Valley, California
#10 in overall quality

Moreno Valley College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in California ranking. Moreno Valley, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s criminal justice degrees to 45 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california associate degree criminal justice students list, Moreno Valley College has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $4,633 for california associate degree criminal justice students per year to attend Moreno Valley College.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Moreno Valley College

#22

Fresno City College

Fresno, California
#24 in overall quality

Fresno City College landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in California ranking. Fresno City College is a public institution located in Fresno, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 168 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Fresno City College also took the #24 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Fresno City College is $2,622 for California Associate Degree Criminal Justice students.

Full Fresno City College Criminal Justice Report

#23

College of the Desert

Palm Desert, California
#21 in overall quality

College of the Desert landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in California ranking. College of the Desert is a fairly large school located in Palm Desert, California that handed out 107 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

College of the Desert did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $9,654 for California Associate Degree Criminal Justice students per year to attend College of the Desert.

Full College of the Desert Criminal Justice Report

#24

Cerritos College

Norwalk, California
#22 in overall quality

Cerritos College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in California ranking. Cerritos College is a large school located in Norwalk, California that handed out 90 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Cerritos College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Cerritos College is $4,022 for california associate degree criminal justice students.

Full Cerritos College Criminal Justice Report

#25

American River College

Sacramento, California
#23 in overall quality

American River College landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in California ranking. American River College is a public institution located in Sacramento, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 74 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california associate degree criminal justice students list, American River has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $4,816 for california associate degree criminal justice students per year to attend American River.

Full American River College Criminal Justice Report

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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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