2027 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Florida
[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 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 36 schools to find the best return on investment for criminal justice students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Florida
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
Our analysis ranked Indian River State College the best value for a degree in criminal justice in Florida. Indian River State College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fort Pierce. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,764, with out-of-state students paying around $10,201. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $9,176 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $51,825. Set against $9,176 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice will find it at St Petersburg College, which ranked #2. Located in the city of St. Petersburg, St Petersburg College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,682, while out-of-state students pay about $9,286. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $14,080 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $48,218. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice will find it at North Florida Community College, which ranked #3. North Florida Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Madison. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,994, while out-of-state students pay about $11,460. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $7,902 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from North Florida Community College generally make around $46,266. That is a strong return on a $7,902 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Hillsborough Community College earned it the #4 place for criminal justice. Set in the city of Tampa, Hillsborough Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,491, with out-of-state students paying around $9,088. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $15,789. Criminal Justice graduates of Hillsborough Community College earn a median of $47,631 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Chipola College earned it the #5 place for criminal justice. Located in the town of Marianna, Chipola College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,120, with out-of-state students paying around $8,950. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $8,847. Criminal Justice graduates of Chipola College earn a median of $43,599 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,847 median debt.
Florida State College At Jacksonville ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice schools. Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public school located in the city of Jacksonville. In-state tuition and fees average $2,657, compared with $9,631 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,796 to complete the criminal justice program here. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $60,055. Set against $15,796 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South Florida State College placed #7 among the best values for criminal justice. South Florida State College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Avon Park. Students from in state pay about $3,165 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,859. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $8,204 in student loans. Criminal Justice graduates of South Florida State College earn a median of $42,415 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pensacola State College placed #8 among the best values for criminal justice. Located in the city of Pensacola, Pensacola State College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,361, compared with $9,463 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $9,191. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Pensacola State College generally make around $45,811. That is a strong return on a $9,191 median debt.
Northwest Florida State College ranked #9 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. Students from in state pay about $2,583 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,612. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $11,808. Criminal Justice graduates of Northwest Florida State College earn a median of $48,463 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Gulf Coast State College ranked #10 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. Students from in state pay about $2,370 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,635 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $6,250 in student loans. Criminal Justice graduates of Gulf Coast State College earn a median of $45,648 early in their careers. Set against $6,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Miami Dade College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice schools. Located in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,838, compared with $9,661 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,563 to complete the criminal justice program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Miami Dade College generally make around $34,209. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Florida Gateway College landed the #12 spot for criminal justice value this year. Located in the town of Lake City, Florida Gateway College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,100, while out-of-state students pay about $11,747. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $7,500 in student loans. Criminal Justice graduates of Florida Gateway College earn a median of $44,048 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pasco Hernando Community College placed #13 among the best values for criminal justice. Set in the suburb of New Port Richey, Pasco Hernando Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,155, compared with $12,032 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,908 to complete the criminal justice program here. Criminal Justice graduates of Pasco Hernando Community College earn a median of $53,856 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,908 median debt.
Eastern Florida State College earned the #14 position for value in criminal justice this year. Set in the city of Melbourne, Eastern Florida State College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,791, while out-of-state students pay about $10,976. Students borrow a median of $8,635 to complete the criminal justice program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Eastern Florida State College generally make around $51,461. That is a strong return on a $8,635 median debt.
Daytona State College placed #15 among the best values for criminal justice. Located in the city of Daytona Beach, Daytona State College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,106, with out-of-state students paying around $11,994. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $8,169. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $52,755. That is a strong return on a $8,169 median debt.
Saint Johns River State College landed the #16 spot for criminal justice value this year. Set in the town of Palatka, Saint Johns River State College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,591, compared with $9,334 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $16,293. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Saint Johns River State College generally make around $47,807. That is a strong return on a $16,293 median debt.
Edison State College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice schools. Edison State College is a large public school located in the suburb of Fort Myers. Students from in state pay about $3,401 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,979. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $13,356 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $52,597. Set against $13,356 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Florida Atlantic University placed #18 among the best values for criminal justice. Set in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,879 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $18,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Florida Atlantic University generally make around $41,963. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Florida Atlantic University admits about 66% of applicants.
Seminole State College Of Florida came in at #19 for value in criminal justice this year. Located in the city of Sanford, Seminole State College Of Florida is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,122, with out-of-state students paying around $11,447. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $12,942 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Seminole State College Of Florida generally make around $36,589. Set against $12,942 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Palm Beach State College placed #20 among the best values for criminal justice. Located in the suburb of Lake Worth, Palm Beach State College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,050, while out-of-state students pay about $10,910. Students borrow a median of $16,000 to complete the criminal justice program here. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $69,415. Set against $16,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tallahassee Community College placed #21 among the best values for criminal justice. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Tallahassee Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,026 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,062. Students borrow a median of $26,862 to complete the criminal justice program here. Criminal Justice graduates of Tallahassee Community College earn a median of $43,235 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of South Florida Main Campus landed the #22 spot for criminal justice value this year. University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,410, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $21,829. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from University Of South Florida Main Campus generally make around $58,306. That is a strong return on a $21,829 median debt. Roughly 43% of applicants are accepted.
Polk State College earned the #23 position for value in criminal justice this year. Located in the city of Winter Haven, Polk State College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,694 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,818 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $14,451 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Polk State College generally make around $47,071. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Valencia College earned the #24 position for value in criminal justice this year. Valencia College is a very large public school located in the city of Orlando. In-state tuition and fees average $2,664, with out-of-state students paying around $9,576. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $10,500. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $33,246. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Santa Fe College ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice schools. Santa Fe College is a large public school located in the suburb of Gainesville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,563, compared with $9,189 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,558 to complete the criminal justice program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Santa Fe College generally make around $45,407. That is a strong return on a $17,558 median debt.
Rest of the Top 36 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s criminal justice value ranking:
More Criminal Justice Rankings
View All Criminal Justice Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 36 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 36 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.
