2027 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
[Criminal Justice](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/criminal-justice/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 15 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value criminal justice schools.
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2027 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Rocky Mountains 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
Utah Valley University earned the #1 spot for value among criminal justice schools in the Rocky Mountains Region. Set in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,507, compared with $18,489 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,016 to complete the criminal justice program here. Criminal Justice graduates of Utah Valley University earn a median of $44,051 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Pikes Peak Community College one of the best values for criminal justice. Set in the suburb of Colorado Springs, Pikes Peak Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,510, while out-of-state students pay about $17,110. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $16,066 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Pikes Peak Community College generally make around $50,546. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Laramie County Community College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice schools. Located in the rural area of Cheyenne, Laramie County Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,613 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,913. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $15,309 in student loans. Criminal Justice graduates of Laramie County Community College earn a median of $51,302 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,309 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northwest College earned it the #4 place for criminal justice. Located in the town of Powell, Northwest College is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $4,962 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,262. Students borrow a median of $12,996 to complete the criminal justice program here. Criminal Justice graduates of Northwest College earn a median of $40,014 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice will find it at College Of Western Idaho, which ranked #5. College Of Western Idaho is a very large public school located in the rural area of Nampa. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,446, while out-of-state students pay about $7,454. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $7,381 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from College Of Western Idaho generally make around $35,959.
Trinidad State Junior College landed the #6 spot for criminal justice value this year. Trinidad State Junior College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Trinidad. In-state tuition and fees average $4,608, compared with $7,318 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,502 to complete the criminal justice program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Trinidad State Junior College generally make around $42,381. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Aims Community College came in at #7 for value in criminal justice this year. Located in the city of Greeley, Aims Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,258, compared with $11,786 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,062 to complete the criminal justice program here. Criminal Justice graduates of Aims Community College earn a median of $45,909 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,062 median debt.
University Of Colorado Denver placed #8 among the best values for criminal justice. University Of Colorado Denver is a very large public school located in the city of Denver. Students from in state pay about $10,383 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $29,391. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $22,250. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from University Of Colorado Denver generally make around $45,814. Set against $22,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Colorado Denver admits about 75% of applicants.
Arapahoe Community College came in at #9 for value in criminal justice this year. Set in the suburb of Littleton, Arapahoe Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,434, compared with $17,034 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,351 to complete the criminal justice program here. Criminal Justice graduates of Arapahoe Community College earn a median of $54,371 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,351 median debt.
Front Range Community College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice schools. Located in the suburb of Westminster, Front Range Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,663, while out-of-state students pay about $17,263. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $24,774 in student loans. Criminal Justice graduates of Front Range Community College earn a median of $40,414 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,774 median debt.
Mesa State College earned the #11 position for value in criminal justice this year. Set in the city of Grand Junction, Mesa State College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,927, while out-of-state students pay about $25,124. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $18,000 in student loans. Criminal Justice graduates of Mesa State College earn a median of $51,921 early in their careers. Set against $18,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Mesa State College admits about 82% of applicants.
University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs came in at #12 for value in criminal justice this year. Located in the city of Colorado Springs, University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,906, compared with $25,039 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $18,625 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $42,199. That is a strong return on a $18,625 median debt. University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs admits about 97% of applicants.
Colorado State University Global Campus placed #13 among the best values for criminal justice. Colorado State University Global Campus is a large public school located in the city of Denver. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,000. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $38,276. Criminal Justice graduates of Colorado State University Global Campus earn a median of $63,568 early in their careers. Set against $38,276 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Colorado State University Global Campus admits about 98% of applicants.
Colorado Technical University Colorado Springs ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice schools. Colorado Technical University Colorado Springs is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Colorado Springs. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,750. Students borrow a median of $50,705 to complete the criminal justice program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Colorado Technical University Colorado Springs generally make around $62,222. That is a strong return on a $50,705 median debt.
Colorado Christian University came in at #15 for value in criminal justice this year. Set in the suburb of Lakewood, Colorado Christian University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $28,846. Students borrow a median of $48,125 to complete the criminal justice program here. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $47,333. Set against $48,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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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 · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 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.
