[Criminal Justice & Corrections](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 624 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools.
Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice tops our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools in the United States. Located in the city of New York, Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,470, compared with $15,420 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,500 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice generally make around $37,284. Set against $10,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice admits about 57% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at California State University Los Angeles earned it the #2 place for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,164 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,764 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $11,679 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of California State University Los Angeles earn a median of $32,974 early in their careers. Set against $11,679 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
California State University San Bernardino is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & corrections, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of San Bernardino, California State University San Bernardino is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,088 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,688 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,917 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $35,029. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice & corrections will find it at Texas A And M University Central Texas, which ranked #4. Texas A And M University Central Texas is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Killeen. Students from in state pay about $7,363 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,155. Students borrow a median of $24,750 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $45,976. Texas A And M University Central Texas admits about 100% of applicants.
Indian River State College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the suburb of Fort Pierce, Indian River State College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,764, while out-of-state students pay about $10,201. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Indian River State College generally make around $43,351. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Texas A And M International University earned the #6 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Texas A And M International University is a large public school located in the city of Laredo. In-state tuition and fees average $7,894, with out-of-state students paying around $19,454. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $15,500 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Texas A And M International University earn a median of $30,739 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,500 median debt. Texas A And M International University admits about 44% of applicants.
California State University Fullerton landed the #7 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,470, compared with $20,070 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of California State University Fullerton earn a median of $34,570 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University Fullerton admits about 90% of applicants.
California State University Bakersfield ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. California State University Bakersfield is a large public school located in the city of Bakersfield. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,087, while out-of-state students pay about $20,687. Median earnings reach $59,009 ten years out. California State University Bakersfield admits about 94% of applicants.
The University Of Texas Pan American ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public school located in the city of Edinburg. Students from in state pay about $9,799 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,645 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,644 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from The University Of Texas Pan American generally make around $32,899. That is a strong return on a $11,644 median debt. The acceptance rate is 94%.
California State University Stanislaus came in at #10 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the suburb of Turlock, California State University Stanislaus is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,242, compared with $20,842 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $12,500 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of California State University Stanislaus earn a median of $34,806 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Utah Valley University earned the #11 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Utah Valley University is a very large public school located in the city of Orem. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,507, while out-of-state students pay about $18,489. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $18,016. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Utah Valley University earn a median of $44,051 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Indiana University Kokomo came in at #12 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the city of Kokomo, Indiana University Kokomo is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,424 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,811 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Indiana University Kokomo earn a median of $39,833 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Dalton State College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Dalton State College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Dalton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,336, with out-of-state students paying around $10,656. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $10,550 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Dalton State College earn a median of $37,856 early in their careers. Set against $10,550 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
California State University Northridge earned the #14 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,458 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,058 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $34,870. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus earned the #15 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Portales. In-state tuition and fees average $7,074, with out-of-state students paying around $9,054. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $17,912. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus earn a median of $31,599 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Purdue University Northwest landed the #16 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Set in the suburb of Hammond, Purdue University Northwest is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,357, with out-of-state students paying around $15,504. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $25,083 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Purdue University Northwest generally make around $51,424. That is a strong return on a $25,083 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University Northwest earned the #17 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Indiana University Northwest is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Gary. Students from in state pay about $8,424 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,811 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $24,471. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Indiana University Northwest generally make around $41,295. That is a strong return on a $24,471 median debt. Indiana University Northwest admits about 73% of applicants.
California State University Dominguez Hills placed #18 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Located in the city of Carson, California State University Dominguez Hills is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,454 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,054. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $12,256 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $36,092. That is a strong return on a $12,256 median debt. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
California State University East Bay placed #19 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. California State University East Bay is a large public school located in the suburb of Hayward. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,583, while out-of-state students pay about $20,183. Students borrow a median of $15,500 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from California State University East Bay generally make around $45,387. Set against $15,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Sacramento ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,018, with out-of-state students paying around $20,618. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $13,745 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of California State University Sacramento earn a median of $38,606 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,745 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Ferris State University ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Ferris State University is a large public school located in the town of Big Rapids. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,778. Students borrow a median of $25,260 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Ferris State University generally make around $44,897. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Florida Atlantic University placed #22 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Located in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,879, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $18,750 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $35,647. Set against $18,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
Atlanta Metropolitan State College came in at #23 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the city of Atlanta, Atlanta Metropolitan State College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,248, while out-of-state students pay about $10,400. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $26,529. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Atlanta Metropolitan State College earn a median of $37,342 early in their careers. Set against $26,529 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of North Texas At Dallas ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the city of Dallas, University Of North Texas At Dallas is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,595, while out-of-state students pay about $21,894. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Florida International University landed the #25 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Set in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,565 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,964 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $18,623 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $36,839. That is a strong return on a $18,623 median debt. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
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:
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 · 624 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 624 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/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
