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2022 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice & Corrections in California

41 Ranked Colleges
7,423 Degrees Awarded
$5,600 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in California

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in California” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2019-2020, 113,581 criminal justice and corrections students received their degree, making the major the 6th most popular in the country. In 2017-2018, criminal justice and corrections graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $31,952 and had an average of $24,936 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 16,534 criminal justice and corrections graduates with average earnings and debt of $28,495 and $19,443 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 7,423 criminal justice and corrections graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,451 and $19,634 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in California” ranking, we looked at 41 colleges that offer a degree in criminal justice and corrections. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality criminal justice and corrections programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the criminal justice and corrections program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in California” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in California

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in California.

Top 25 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice & Corrections in California

#1

Golden West College

Huntington Beach, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Golden West College. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in California list. Huntington Beach, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s criminal justice degrees to 120 students in 2019-2020.

Golden West College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend Golden West College is $2,862 for california associate degree criminal justice students.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Golden West College

#2

Butte College

Oroville, California
#3 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Butte College. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in California. Butte College is a public institution located in Oroville, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 132 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Butte College, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Butte College is $5,070 for california associate degree criminal justice students.

Full Butte College Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#3

Santa Rosa Junior College

Santa Rosa, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Santa Rosa Junior College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in California. Located in Santa Rosa, California, this fairly large public school handed out 70 diplomas to qualified associates’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

SRJC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Santa Rosa Junior College is $5,782 for California Associate Degree Criminal Justice students.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Santa Rosa Junior College

#4

Antelope Valley College

Lancaster, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Antelope Valley College. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in California list. Antelope Valley College is a fairly large school located in Lancaster, California that handed out 170 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california associate degree criminal justice students list, Antelope Valley College has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Antelope Valley College is $4,775 for california associate degree criminal justice students.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Antelope Valley College

#5

Los Medanos College

Pittsburg, California
#4 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Los Medanos College. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in California. This medium-sized school is located in Pittsburg, California, and it awarded 67 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Los Medanos, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Los Medanos is $5,162 for California Associate Degree Criminal Justice students.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Los Medanos College

#6

Sacramento City College

Sacramento, California

Sacramento City College landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in California ranking. Sacramento, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s criminal justice degrees to 157 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california associate degree criminal justice students list, Sacramento City has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $4,835 for california associate degree criminal justice students per year to attend Sacramento City College.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Sacramento City

#7

Evergreen Valley College

San Jose, California

Evergreen Valley College landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in California ranking. Evergreen Valley College is a medium-sized public school situated in San Jose, California. It awarded 52 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Evergreen Valley College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Evergreen Valley College is $10,701 for California Associate Degree Criminal Justice students.

The low student loan default rate of 2.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Evergreen Valley College

#8

Santa Ana College

Santa Ana, California
#6 in overall quality

Santa Ana College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in California list. Santa Ana College is a large public school situated in Santa Ana, California. It awarded 93 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

SAC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for SAC is $3,801 for california associate degree criminal justice students.

Full SAC Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#9

San Bernardino Valley College

San Bernardino, California

San Bernardino Valley College landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in California ranking. This fairly large school is located in San Bernardino, California, and it awarded 81 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for San Bernardino Valley College is $7,391 for California Associate Degree Criminal Justice students.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at San Bernardino Valley College

#10

East Los Angeles College

Monterey Park, California

With a ranking of #10, East Los Angeles College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in California list. East Los Angeles College is a public institution located in Monterey Park, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 340 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

East Los Angeles College also made our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #7. It costs about $9,570 for California Associate Degree Criminal Justice students per year to attend East Los Angeles College.

Full East Los Angeles College Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#11

El Camino College

Torrance, California

El Camino College landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in California ranking. El Camino College is a large public school situated in Torrance, California. It awarded 111 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

El Camino College also took the #8 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for El Camino College is $9,434 for California Associate Degree Criminal Justice students.

The low student loan default rate of 1.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at El Camino College

#12

Ventura College

Ventura, California

Ventura College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in California list. Ventura College is a fairly large public school situated in Ventura, California. It awarded 156 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Ventura College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Ventura College is $1,514 for california associate degree criminal justice students.

Full Ventura College Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#13

College of the Canyons

Santa Clarita, California

College of the Canyons landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in California ranking. Located in Santa Clarita, California, this large public school awarded 87 degrees to qualified associates’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

College of the Canyons not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for College of the Canyons is $4,088 for California Associate Degree Criminal Justice students.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at College of the Canyons

#14

Victor Valley College

Victorville, California

Victor Valley College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in California ranking. Victor Valley College is located in Victorville, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 153 associates’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

Victor Valley College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $8,504 for California Associate Degree Criminal Justice students per year to attend Victor Valley College.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Victor Valley College

#15

Rio Hondo College

Whittier, California

With a ranking of #15, Rio Hondo College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in California list. Whittier, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s criminal justice degrees to 132 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at RHCCD, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend RHCCD is $5,487 for California Associate Degree Criminal Justice students.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at RHCCD

#16

West Valley College

Saratoga, California

With a ranking of #16, West Valley College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in California list. Located in Saratoga, California, this medium-sized public school awarded 55 degrees to qualified associates’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at West Valley College, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $3,791 for California Associate Degree Criminal Justice students per year to attend West Valley College.

Full West Valley College Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#17

Citrus College

Glendora, California

Citrus College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in California ranking. This fairly large school is located in Glendora, California, and it awarded 173 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Citrus College also made our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #19. The estimated yearly cost for Citrus College is $2,751 for california associate degree criminal justice students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Citrus College Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#18

Gavilan College

Gilroy, California

Gavilan College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in California ranking, coming in at #18. Gavilan College is a public institution located in Gilroy, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 37 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Gavilan College also made our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #20. It costs about $4,784 for california associate degree criminal justice students per year to attend Gavilan College.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Gavilan College

#19

West Los Angeles College

Culver City, California

With a ranking of #19, West Los Angeles College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in California list. West Los Angeles College is a fairly large school located in Culver City, California that handed out 94 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at West LA College, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for West Los Angeles College is $7,084 for California Associate Degree Criminal Justice students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at West Los Angeles College

#20

Coastline Community College

Fountain Valley, California
#18 in overall quality

Coastline Community College landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in California ranking. Fountain Valley, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s criminal justice degrees to 23 students in 2019-2020.

Coastline Community College also took the #18 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Coastline Community College is $7,389 for California Associate Degree Criminal Justice students.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Coastline Community College

#21

Moreno Valley College

Moreno Valley, California
#10 in overall quality

Moreno Valley College landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in California ranking. Located in Moreno Valley, California, this medium-sized public school awarded 45 degrees to qualified associates’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

Moreno Valley College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $4,633 for California Associate Degree Criminal Justice students per year to attend Moreno Valley College.

Full Moreno Valley College Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#22

Fresno City College

Fresno, California

Fresno City College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in California ranking, coming in at #22. Fresno City College is a large public school situated in Fresno, California. It awarded 171 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Fresno City College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #24 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $2,622 for California Associate Degree Criminal Justice students per year to attend Fresno City College.

Full Fresno City College Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#23

College of the Desert

Palm Desert, California

College of the Desert came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in California ranking. Located in Palm Desert, California, this fairly large public school awarded 107 diplomas to qualified associates’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california associate degree criminal justice students list, College of the Desert has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend College of the Desert is $9,654 for California Associate Degree Criminal Justice students.

Full College of the Desert Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#24

Cerritos College

Norwalk, California

With a ranking of #24, Cerritos College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in California list. Located in Norwalk, California, this large public school awarded 90 degrees to qualified associates’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

Cerritos College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Cerritos College is $4,022 for california associate degree criminal justice students.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Cerritos College

#25

American River College

Sacramento, California

American River College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in California ranking. Located in Sacramento, California, this large public school awarded 74 degrees to qualified associates’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

American River also took the #23 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend American River College is $4,816 for california associate degree criminal justice students.

Full American River Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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