2026 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in North Carolina
[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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 16 schools to find the best return on investment for criminal justice students.
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2026 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in North Carolina
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
North Carolina Central University tops our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice schools in North Carolina. Located in the city of Durham, North Carolina Central University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,699, with out-of-state students paying around $19,735. Students borrow a median of $29,500 to complete the criminal justice program here. Criminal Justice graduates of North Carolina Central University earn a median of $37,808 early in their careers. Set against $29,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes North Carolina Wesleyan College one of the best values for criminal justice. Located in the city of Rocky Mount, North Carolina Wesleyan College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $35,586. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $29,500. Criminal Justice graduates of North Carolina Wesleyan College earn a median of $43,121 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,500 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Augustines College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Raleigh, Saint Augustines College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,896. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $35,887 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $23,500. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 34% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice will find it at Mars Hill College, which ranked #4. Mars Hill College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Mars Hill. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,736. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $27,000. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $43,031. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Wingate University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice schools. Set in the suburb of Wingate, Wingate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,576. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Criminal Justice graduates of Wingate University earn a median of $39,498 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Wingate University admits about 91% of applicants.
Brevard College earned the #6 position for value in criminal justice this year. Brevard College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Brevard. Students from in state pay about $32,280 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $26,000. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $39,000. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Lenoir Rhyne University came in at #7 for value in criminal justice this year. Located in the city of Hickory, Lenoir Rhyne University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $31,900. Students borrow a median of $26,900 to complete the criminal justice program here. Criminal Justice graduates of Lenoir Rhyne University earn a median of $49,985 early in their careers. Set against $26,900 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Lenoir Rhyne University admits about 85% of applicants.
Campbell University came in at #8 for value in criminal justice this year. Set in the town of Buies Creek, Campbell University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $41,600. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $27,000. Criminal Justice graduates of Campbell University earn a median of $40,590 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Gardner Webb University earned the #9 position for value in criminal justice this year. Gardner Webb University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Boiling Springs. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,750. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the criminal justice program here. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $35,433. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Methodist University came in at #10 for value in criminal justice this year. Methodist University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fayetteville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,250. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Methodist University generally make around $56,375. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Lees Mcrae College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice schools. Lees Mcrae College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Banner Elk. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $33,850. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete the criminal justice program here. Criminal Justice graduates of Lees Mcrae College earn a median of $39,811 early in their careers. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Lees Mcrae College admits about 77% of applicants.
More Criminal Justice Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.
