2026 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Kansas
[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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 8 schools to find the best return on investment for criminal justice students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Kansas
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
For return on investment in criminal justice, no school beat Central Christian College Of Kansas this year. Set in the town of McPherson, Central Christian College Of Kansas is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $21,000. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $36,076. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $55,453. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Central Christian College Of Kansas admits about 53% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Washburn University one of the best values for criminal justice. Set in the city of Topeka, Washburn University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,945, while out-of-state students pay about $20,949. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $20,822. Criminal Justice graduates of Washburn University earn a median of $40,052 early in their careers. Set against $20,822 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Johnson County Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Overland Park, Johnson County Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,424, compared with $5,688 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $20,106. Criminal Justice graduates of Johnson County Community College earn a median of $55,171 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes Butler Community College one of the best values for criminal justice. Located in the town of El Dorado, Butler Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,541, compared with $6,271 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $16,670 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Butler Community College generally make around $39,404. That is a strong return on a $16,670 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Sterling College Kansas earned it the #5 place for criminal justice. Sterling College Kansas is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Sterling. Students from in state pay about $33,700 in tuition and fees. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $27,250 in student loans. Criminal Justice graduates of Sterling College Kansas earn a median of $30,086 early in their careers. Set against $27,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Sterling College Kansas admits about 48% of applicants.
More Criminal Justice Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
