2027 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in North Carolina
[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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 10 schools to find the best return on investment for criminal justice students.
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2027 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in North Carolina
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in criminal justice, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Criminal Justice Schools
For return on investment in criminal justice, no school beat North Carolina Central University this year. Set in the city of Durham, North Carolina Central University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,699, compared with $19,735 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $29,500 to complete the criminal justice program here. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $37,808. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. North Carolina Central University admits about 87% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at North Carolina Wesleyan College earned it the #2 place for criminal justice. Set in the city of Rocky Mount, North Carolina Wesleyan College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,586. Students borrow a median of $29,500 to complete the criminal justice program here. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $43,121. That is a strong return on a $29,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice will find it at Gardner Webb University, which ranked #3. Located in the rural area of Boiling Springs, Gardner Webb University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $34,750 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Gardner Webb University generally make around $35,433. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Gardner Webb University admits about 77% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Lenoir Rhyne University one of the best values for criminal justice. Set in the city of Hickory, Lenoir Rhyne University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $31,900. Students borrow a median of $26,900 to complete the criminal justice program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Lenoir Rhyne University generally make around $49,985. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Lenoir Rhyne University admits about 85% of applicants.
Mars Hill College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice schools. 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. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $43,031. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Mars Hill College admits about 68% of applicants.
Wingate University earned the #6 position for value in criminal justice this year. 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. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Brevard College came in at #7 for value in criminal justice this year. Set in the town of Brevard, Brevard College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $32,280. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the criminal justice program here. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $39,000. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Brevard College admits about 42% of applicants.
Campbell University landed the #8 spot for criminal justice value this year. Campbell University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Buies Creek. In-state tuition and fees average $41,600. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the criminal justice program here. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $40,590. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Methodist University placed #9 among the best values for criminal justice. Set in the city of Fayetteville, Methodist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $41,250 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the criminal justice program here. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $56,375. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Lees Mcrae College landed the #10 spot for criminal justice value this year. Located in the rural area of Banner Elk, Lees Mcrae College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $33,850. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $39,811. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
More Criminal Justice Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.
