2027 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
[Criminal Justice](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/criminal-justice/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong criminal justice education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 90 schools to find the best return on investment for criminal justice students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the criminal justice degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Criminal Justice Schools
Leading the list is Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice, our #1 best value for criminal justice in the Middle Atlantic Region. Located in the city of New York, Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,470, while out-of-state students pay about $15,420. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $10,500 in student loans. Criminal Justice graduates of Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice earn a median of $50,103 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 57%.
Cuny Kingsborough Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Kingsborough Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,252 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,132 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $6,167 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $29,606. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuny Laguardia Community College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice schools. Set in the city of Long Island City, Cuny Laguardia Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,218, while out-of-state students pay about $8,098. Students borrow a median of $6,750 to complete the criminal justice program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Cuny Laguardia Community College generally make around $25,515. Set against $6,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #4 makes Cuny Bronx Community College one of the best values for criminal justice. Set in the city of Bronx, Cuny Bronx Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,206, compared with $8,086 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $6,021 in student loans. Criminal Justice graduates of Cuny Bronx Community College earn a median of $28,940 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,021 median debt.
Raritan Valley Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the rural area of Branchburg, Raritan Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,664 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,584 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $47,248. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
Nassau Community College placed #6 among the best values for criminal justice. Nassau Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Garden City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,330, while out-of-state students pay about $12,130. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $10,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Nassau Community College generally make around $29,837. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuny Hostos Community College came in at #7 for value in criminal justice this year. Set in the city of Bronx, Cuny Hostos Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,254, with out-of-state students paying around $8,134. Students borrow a median of $6,256 to complete the criminal justice program here. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $28,343. Set against $6,256 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ulster County Community College placed #8 among the best values for criminal justice. Ulster County Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Stone Ridge. In-state tuition and fees average $6,666, with out-of-state students paying around $12,146. Students borrow a median of $13,206 to complete the criminal justice program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Ulster County Community College generally make around $51,069. Set against $13,206 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Monroe Community College came in at #9 for value in criminal justice this year. Set in the suburb of Rochester, Monroe Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,006, while out-of-state students pay about $11,056. Students borrow a median of $13,750 to complete the criminal justice program here. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $56,846. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Erie Community College landed the #10 spot for criminal justice value this year. Erie Community College is a large public school located in the city of Buffalo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,100, compared with $11,300 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,938 to complete the criminal justice program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Erie Community College generally make around $51,676. That is a strong return on a $12,938 median debt.
Butler County Community College landed the #11 spot for criminal justice value this year. Set in the town of Butler, Butler County Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,910, with out-of-state students paying around $12,000. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $10,836. Criminal Justice graduates of Butler County Community College earn a median of $41,492 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Orange County Community College came in at #12 for value in criminal justice this year. Set in the suburb of Middletown, Orange County Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,526, compared with $12,334 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,250 to complete the criminal justice program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Orange County Community College generally make around $36,111. That is a strong return on a $14,250 median debt.
Niagara County Community College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice schools. Located in the rural area of Sanborn, Niagara County Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,894, with out-of-state students paying around $12,030. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Criminal Justice graduates of Niagara County Community College earn a median of $27,970 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt.
Union County College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice schools. Union County College is a large public school located in the suburb of Cranford. Students from in state pay about $5,280 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,500. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $11,343. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Union County College generally make around $30,629. Set against $11,343 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hudson Valley Community College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice schools. Hudson Valley Community College is a large public school located in the city of Troy. In-state tuition and fees average $6,796, compared with $11,852 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $10,700 in student loans. Criminal Justice graduates of Hudson Valley Community College earn a median of $30,093 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,700 median debt.
Genesee Community College came in at #16 for value in criminal justice this year. Set in the town of Batavia, Genesee Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,900, with out-of-state students paying around $6,500. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $11,500 in student loans. Criminal Justice graduates of Genesee Community College earn a median of $38,483 early in their careers. Set against $11,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Columbia Greene Community College landed the #17 spot for criminal justice value this year. Columbia Greene Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Hudson. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,048, with out-of-state students paying around $11,448. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $19,168. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $34,411. Set against $19,168 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Corning Community College landed the #18 spot for criminal justice value this year. Located in the rural area of Corning, Corning Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,534, while out-of-state students pay about $10,326. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Corning Community College generally make around $33,166. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of Southern Maryland placed #19 among the best values for criminal justice. Located in the rural area of La Plata, College Of Southern Maryland is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,200, compared with $9,450 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $9,728. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $51,719. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lehigh Carbon Community College landed the #20 spot for criminal justice value this year. Set in the rural area of Schnecksville, Lehigh Carbon Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,280 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $13,270. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $33,360. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Onondaga Community College landed the #21 spot for criminal justice value this year. Set in the suburb of Syracuse, Onondaga Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,102 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,392. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the criminal justice program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Onondaga Community College generally make around $27,074. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt.
Mohawk Valley Community College earned the #22 position for value in criminal justice this year. Located in the city of Utica, Mohawk Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $6,218 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,851. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $12,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Mohawk Valley Community College generally make around $36,754. That is a strong return on a $12,500 median debt.
Schenectady County Community College earned the #23 position for value in criminal justice this year. Set in the city of Schenectady, Schenectady County Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,190 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,974. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $40,902.
Delaware Technical Community College Terry ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice schools. Set in the city of Dover, Delaware Technical Community College Terry is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,332, while out-of-state students pay about $5,763. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $7,000. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Delaware Technical Community College Terry generally make around $33,737. Set against $7,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rockland Community College landed the #25 spot for criminal justice value this year. Set in the suburb of Suffern, Rockland Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,862. Students borrow a median of $10,510 to complete the criminal justice program here. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $29,633. Set against $10,510 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for criminal justice this year:
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 90 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 90 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
