2027 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Tennessee
[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 15 schools to find the best return on investment for criminal justice students.
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2027 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Tennessee
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 Austin Peay State University, our #1 best value for criminal justice in Tennessee. Located in the city of Clarksville, Austin Peay State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,006 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,766. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $25,281 in student loans. Criminal Justice graduates of Austin Peay State University earn a median of $36,749 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,281 median debt. Austin Peay State University admits about 96% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes The University Of Tennessee Martin one of the best values for criminal justice. Located in the town of Martin, The University Of Tennessee Martin is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,560, compared with $16,600 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $22,671 in student loans. Criminal Justice graduates of The University Of Tennessee Martin earn a median of $32,167 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,671 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Le Moyne Owen College earned it the #3 place for criminal justice. Located in the city of Memphis, Le Moyne Owen College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,076. Median earnings reach $35,594 ten years out. Le Moyne Owen College admits about 99% of applicants.
University Of Memphis came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice schools. Located in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,728, compared with $15,384 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $27,000. Criminal Justice graduates of University Of Memphis earn a median of $35,900 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Bethel University Tennessee earned it the #5 place for criminal justice. Set in the town of McKenzie, Bethel University Tennessee is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $18,712. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $24,444. Criminal Justice graduates of Bethel University Tennessee earn a median of $54,442 early in their careers. Set against $24,444 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Strayer University Tennessee landed the #6 spot for criminal justice value this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Strayer University Tennessee is a mid-sized private for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $13,920 in tuition and fees. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $56,937 in student loans. Criminal Justice graduates of Strayer University Tennessee earn a median of $43,405 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Middle Tennessee State University came in at #7 for value in criminal justice this year. Located in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,266, with out-of-state students paying around $31,574. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $24,093 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Middle Tennessee State University generally make around $37,952. That is a strong return on a $24,093 median debt. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Martin Methodist College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice schools. Set in the town of Pulaski, Martin Methodist College is a small public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,924 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $23,308. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Martin Methodist College generally make around $40,832. That is a strong return on a $23,308 median debt. The acceptance rate is 87%.
The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga landed the #9 spot for criminal justice value this year. Located in the city of Chattanooga, The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,448, while out-of-state students pay about $18,512. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $22,995 in student loans. Criminal Justice graduates of The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga earn a median of $37,403 early in their careers. Set against $22,995 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga admits about 81% of applicants.
Tennessee State University landed the #10 spot for criminal justice value this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Tennessee State University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,616, compared with $22,416 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $28,001 to complete the criminal justice program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Tennessee State University generally make around $32,555. Set against $28,001 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Tennessee State University admits about 70% of applicants.
East Tennessee State University earned the #11 position for value in criminal justice this year. East Tennessee State University is a large public school located in the city of Johnson City. In-state tuition and fees average $10,216, with out-of-state students paying around $13,726. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $25,942 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from East Tennessee State University generally make around $30,097. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Trevecca Nazarene University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice schools. Trevecca Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Students from in state pay about $31,300 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,962 to complete the criminal justice program here. Criminal Justice graduates of Trevecca Nazarene University earn a median of $52,004 early in their careers. Set against $24,962 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
South College placed #13 among the best values for criminal justice. Set in the city of Knoxville, South College is a very large private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,535. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $24,533. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $24,095. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cumberland University placed #14 among the best values for criminal justice. Set in the town of Lebanon, Cumberland University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $27,840 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $21,902 to complete the criminal justice program here. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $45,223. Set against $21,902 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 67%.
Lincoln Memorial University landed the #15 spot for criminal justice value this year. Set in the town of Harrogate, Lincoln Memorial University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $26,938. Students borrow a median of $20,693 to complete the criminal justice program here. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $64,307. That is a strong return on a $20,693 median debt. Lincoln Memorial University admits about 63% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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.
