2027 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in New Jersey
[Criminal Justice](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/criminal-justice/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 12 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for criminal justice students.
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2027 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in New Jersey
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in criminal justice, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Criminal Justice Schools
Leading the list is Raritan Valley Community College, our #1 best value for criminal justice in New Jersey. Raritan Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Branchburg. In-state tuition and fees average $5,664, with out-of-state students paying around $7,584. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the criminal justice program here. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $47,248. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Union County College earned it the #2 place for criminal justice. Set in the suburb of Cranford, Union County College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,280 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cumberland County College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice schools. Set in the city of Vineland, Cumberland County College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,160, while out-of-state students pay about $6,000. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $11,931. Criminal Justice graduates of Cumberland County College earn a median of $39,469 early in their careers. Set against $11,931 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kean University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice schools. Set in the suburb of Union, Kean University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,299, while out-of-state students pay about $22,446. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $25,993. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $39,408. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Gloucester County College earned it the #5 place for criminal justice. Gloucester County College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Sewell. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,160, compared with $6,000 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $11,931. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $38,274. That is a strong return on a $11,931 median debt.
Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus placed #6 among the best values for criminal justice. Set in the suburb of Teaneck, Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $37,010. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $24,672. Criminal Justice graduates of Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus earn a median of $39,055 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus admits about 91% of applicants.
The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey came in at #7 for value in criminal justice this year. Located in the rural area of Galloway, The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $16,266 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,524 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $24,990 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey generally make around $43,490. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
College Of Saint Elizabeth ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice schools. Located in the suburb of Morristown, College Of Saint Elizabeth is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $36,740 in tuition and fees. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $25,496 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from College Of Saint Elizabeth generally make around $76,861. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. College Of Saint Elizabeth admits about 71% of applicants.
Berkeley College Woodland Park placed #9 among the best values for criminal justice. Located in the suburb of Woodland Park, Berkeley College Woodland Park is a mid-sized private for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $28,320. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $23,858. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $31,091. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The College Of New Jersey came in at #10 for value in criminal justice this year. The College Of New Jersey is a large public school located in the suburb of Ewing. In-state tuition and fees average $19,632, compared with $25,752 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $20,500. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $36,070. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. Roughly 62% of applicants are accepted.
Seton Hall University landed the #11 spot for criminal justice value this year. Seton Hall University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of South Orange. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,170. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Criminal Justice graduates of Seton Hall University earn a median of $27,167 early in their careers. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Felician College came in at #12 for value in criminal justice this year. Felician College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lodi. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,300. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $27,000. Criminal Justice graduates of Felician College earn a median of $56,976 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
