[Criminal Justice & Corrections](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/) 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 503 schools to find the best return on investment for criminal justice & corrections students.
Our analysis ranked College Of San Mateo the best value for a degree in criminal justice & corrections in the United States. Set in the city of San Mateo, College Of San Mateo is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,332 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,428. Students borrow a median of $12,831 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Median earnings reach $54,172 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $12,831 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice & corrections will find it at Macomb Community College, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Warren, Macomb Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,660, while out-of-state students pay about $8,370. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $6,964 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Macomb Community College earn a median of $38,758 early in their careers. Set against $6,964 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Middlesex County College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the suburb of Edison, Middlesex County College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,764 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,356 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,119 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Middlesex County College earn a median of $32,712 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,119 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Moorpark College earned it the #4 place for criminal justice & corrections. Moorpark College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Moorpark. In-state tuition and fees average $1,426, with out-of-state students paying around $9,615. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $17,075 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Moorpark College generally make around $105,599. Set against $17,075 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice & corrections will find it at Middlesex Community College Bedford, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of Bedford, Middlesex Community College Bedford is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,098, with out-of-state students paying around $12,170. Students borrow a median of $10,950 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Middlesex Community College Bedford generally make around $41,796. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Chattahoochee Technical College placed #6 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Chattahoochee Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of Marietta. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,540, compared with $6,108 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,616 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Chattahoochee Technical College earn a median of $44,673 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Schoolcraft College earned the #7 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the city of Livonia, Schoolcraft College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,799, while out-of-state students pay about $6,501. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $11,868 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $49,224. Set against $11,868 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Del Mar College earned the #8 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Del Mar College is a large public school located in the city of Corpus Christi. In-state tuition and fees average $3,500, while out-of-state students pay about $6,050. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $6,250 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $40,661. Set against $6,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Moraine Valley Community College came in at #9 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Moraine Valley Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Palos Hills. In-state tuition and fees average $3,822, compared with $9,846 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $11,149. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $43,844. Set against $11,149 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Modesto Junior College landed the #10 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Located in the city of Modesto, Modesto Junior College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,282, compared with $9,264 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $8,575 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Modesto Junior College generally make around $28,102. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Santa Ana College earned the #11 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Santa Ana College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Ana. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,180, while out-of-state students pay about $10,756. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $11,196. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Santa Ana College generally make around $39,633. Set against $11,196 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
West Valley College came in at #12 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the suburb of Saratoga, West Valley College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $0, while out-of-state students pay about $9,320. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $14,308 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of West Valley College earn a median of $25,378 early in their careers. Set against $14,308 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Joliet Junior College placed #13 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,530, compared with $13,800 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $11,995 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Joliet Junior College generally make around $40,118. That is a strong return on a $11,995 median debt.
Ventura College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the city of Ventura, Ventura College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,426, with out-of-state students paying around $9,615. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $20,250. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $99,778. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of The Canyons came in at #15 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. College Of The Canyons is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Clarita. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,166, compared with $10,958 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $9,776 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $51,913. Set against $9,776 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Victor Valley College placed #16 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Located in the suburb of Victorville, Victor Valley College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,425 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,125 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $7,995 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Victor Valley College generally make around $31,600. Set against $7,995 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Grossmont College landed the #17 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Located in the suburb of El Cajon, Grossmont College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,332 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,628 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $40,309 ten years after entry.
Skyline College landed the #18 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Located in the suburb of San Bruno, Skyline College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,332, while out-of-state students pay about $9,956. Median earnings reach $55,702 ten years out.
Suffolk County Community College ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,630 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,460 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,625 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Suffolk County Community College generally make around $31,617. That is a strong return on a $7,625 median debt.
San Diego Miramar College landed the #20 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego Miramar College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,146, while out-of-state students pay about $10,002. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $8,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from San Diego Miramar College generally make around $22,722. That is a strong return on a $8,250 median debt.
Yuba College landed the #21 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Yuba College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Marysville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,128, while out-of-state students pay about $8,208. Students borrow a median of $8,729 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Yuba College generally make around $62,350. That is a strong return on a $8,729 median debt.
Pasadena City College placed #22 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Pasadena City College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. Students from in state pay about $1,180 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,924 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $9,191 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Pasadena City College earn a median of $28,492 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,191 median debt.
Irvine Valley College earned the #23 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Irvine Valley College is a large public school located in the city of Irvine. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,156, with out-of-state students paying around $11,860. Students borrow a median of $6,672 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,156 ten years after entry. Set against $6,672 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Indian River State College placed #24 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Located in the suburb of Fort Pierce, Indian River State College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,764, compared with $10,201 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $9,176 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Indian River State College earn a median of $51,825 early in their careers. Set against $9,176 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
El Centro College placed #25 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Located in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,730, while out-of-state students pay about $6,900. Students borrow a median of $11,457 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of El Centro College earn a median of $37,202 early in their careers. Set against $11,457 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s criminal justice & corrections value ranking:
This ranking is produced 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 · 503 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 503 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).
[Criminal Justice & Corrections](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
