2027 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Southeast 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 schools below stand out for delivering a strong criminal justice education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 154 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for criminal justice students.
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2027 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Southeast Region
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 Indian River State College, our #1 best value for criminal justice in the Southeast Region. Located in the suburb of Fort Pierce, Indian River State College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,764, with out-of-state students paying around $10,201. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $9,176. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Indian River State College generally make around $51,825. That is a strong return on a $9,176 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes St Petersburg College one of the best values for criminal justice. Set in the city of St. Petersburg, St Petersburg College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,682, while out-of-state students pay about $9,286. Students borrow a median of $14,080 to complete the criminal justice program here. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $48,218. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hillsborough Community College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice schools. Set in the city of Tampa, Hillsborough Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,491, compared with $9,088 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,789 to complete the criminal justice program here. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $47,631. That is a strong return on a $15,789 median debt.
Florida State College At Jacksonville is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Jacksonville, Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,657, while out-of-state students pay about $9,631. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $15,796 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $60,055. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes Chipola College one of the best values for criminal justice. Set in the town of Marianna, Chipola College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,120, while out-of-state students pay about $8,950. Students borrow a median of $8,847 to complete the criminal justice program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Chipola College generally make around $43,599. That is a strong return on a $8,847 median debt.
North Florida Community College landed the #6 spot for criminal justice value this year. Set in the rural area of Madison, North Florida Community College is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,994, while out-of-state students pay about $11,460. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $7,902. Criminal Justice graduates of North Florida Community College earn a median of $46,266 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
South Florida State College earned the #7 position for value in criminal justice this year. Located in the suburb of Avon Park, South Florida State College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,165, with out-of-state students paying around $11,859. Students borrow a median of $8,204 to complete the criminal justice program here. Criminal Justice graduates of South Florida State College earn a median of $42,415 early in their careers. Set against $8,204 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Atlanta Technical College came in at #8 for value in criminal justice this year. Set in the city of Atlanta, Atlanta Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,382, while out-of-state students pay about $5,950. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $17,655 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $35,441. Set against $17,655 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pensacola State College placed #9 among the best values for criminal justice. Pensacola State College is a large public school located in the city of Pensacola. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,361, while out-of-state students pay about $9,463. Students borrow a median of $9,191 to complete the criminal justice program here. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $45,811. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northwest Florida State College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice schools. Located in the suburb of Niceville, Northwest Florida State College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,583, with out-of-state students paying around $10,612. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $11,808 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Northwest Florida State College generally make around $48,463. That is a strong return on a $11,808 median debt.
Gulf Coast State College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice schools. Set in the city of Panama City, Gulf Coast State College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,370, while out-of-state students pay about $8,635. Students borrow a median of $6,250 to complete the criminal justice program here. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $45,648. That is a strong return on a $6,250 median debt.
Itawamba Community College earned the #12 position for value in criminal justice this year. Set in the rural area of Fulton, Itawamba Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,420 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,820. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $10,942 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $32,996. Set against $10,942 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Miami Dade College earned the #13 position for value in criminal justice this year. Set in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,838 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,661 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $9,563. Criminal Justice graduates of Miami Dade College earn a median of $34,209 early in their careers. Set against $9,563 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Big Sandy Community And Technical College landed the #14 spot for criminal justice value this year. Big Sandy Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Prestonsburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $10,994. Criminal Justice graduates of Big Sandy Community And Technical College earn a median of $29,432 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Dalton State College landed the #15 spot for criminal justice value this year. Set in the city of Dalton, Dalton State College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,336, compared with $10,656 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $10,550 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Dalton State College generally make around $37,856. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Florida Gateway College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice schools. Florida Gateway College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Lake City. In-state tuition and fees average $3,100, while out-of-state students pay about $11,747. Students borrow a median of $7,500 to complete the criminal justice program here. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $44,048. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College placed #17 among the best values for criminal justice. J Sargeant Reynolds Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Richmond. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,280, with out-of-state students paying around $11,718. Students borrow a median of $16,131 to complete the criminal justice program here. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $36,965. That is a strong return on a $16,131 median debt.
Wytheville Community College ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice schools. Wytheville Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Wytheville. In-state tuition and fees average $5,007, while out-of-state students pay about $11,445. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $9,542. Criminal Justice graduates of Wytheville Community College earn a median of $38,907 early in their careers. Set against $9,542 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pasco Hernando Community College earned the #19 position for value in criminal justice this year. Pasco Hernando Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of New Port Richey. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,155, while out-of-state students pay about $12,032. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $14,908. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Pasco Hernando Community College generally make around $53,856. Set against $14,908 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Phillips Community College Of The University Of Arkansas came in at #20 for value in criminal justice this year. Located in the town of Helena, Phillips Community College Of The University Of Arkansas is a small public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,380, compared with $4,550 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Phillips Community College Of The University Of Arkansas generally make around $45,190. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Eastern Florida State College came in at #21 for value in criminal justice this year. Eastern Florida State College is a large public school located in the city of Melbourne. In-state tuition and fees average $2,791, while out-of-state students pay about $10,976. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $8,635 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $51,461. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Dabney S Lancaster Community College earned the #22 position for value in criminal justice this year. Set in the rural area of Clifton Forge, Dabney S Lancaster Community College is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,022, with out-of-state students paying around $11,460. Graduates go on to earn a median of $34,293 ten years after entry.
Somerset Community College came in at #23 for value in criminal justice this year. Located in the town of Somerset, Somerset Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Students borrow a median of $14,387 to complete the criminal justice program here. Criminal Justice graduates of Somerset Community College earn a median of $34,245 early in their careers. Set against $14,387 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Bluegrass Community And Technical College ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice schools. Set in the city of Lexington, Bluegrass Community And Technical College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,808, with out-of-state students paying around $6,512. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $10,814 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $44,752. That is a strong return on a $10,814 median debt.
Elizabethtown Community And Technical College placed #25 among the best values for criminal justice. Set in the city of Elizabethtown, Elizabethtown Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $12,245. Criminal Justice graduates of Elizabethtown Community And Technical College earn a median of $45,486 early in their careers. Set against $12,245 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
The ranking above is published 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 · 154 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 154 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.
