by our College Data Analytics Team
[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 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 161 schools to find the best return on investment for criminal justice & corrections students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the criminal justice & corrections degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in criminal justice & corrections, no school beat College Of San Mateo this year. Set in the city of San Mateo, College Of San Mateo is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,332, compared with $11,428 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $12,831. Graduates go on to earn a median of $54,172 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $12,831 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Moorpark College earned it the #2 place for criminal justice & corrections. Located in the suburb of Moorpark, Moorpark College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,426 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,615. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $17,075 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Moorpark College earn a median of $105,599 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cerritos College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the suburb of Norwalk, Cerritos College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,364, compared with $12,004 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,306 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Cerritos College generally make around $29,495. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice & corrections will find it at Skyline College, which ranked #4. Skyline College is a large public school located in the suburb of San Bruno. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,332, with out-of-state students paying around $9,956. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $55,702.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice & corrections will find it at San Diego Miramar College, which ranked #5. San Diego Miramar College is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. Students from in state pay about $1,146 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,002 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,994 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $57,185. That is a strong return on a $10,994 median debt.
College Of The Canyons placed #6 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,166, while out-of-state students pay about $10,958. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $9,776. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from College Of The Canyons generally make around $51,913. That is a strong return on a $9,776 median debt.
Grossmont College came in at #7 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the suburb of El Cajon, Grossmont College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,332, with out-of-state students paying around $10,628. Graduates go on to earn a median of $40,309 ten years after entry.
Moreno Valley College earned the #8 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the suburb of Moreno Valley, Moreno Valley College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,428, with out-of-state students paying around $12,498. Students borrow a median of $12,643 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Moreno Valley College generally make around $81,339. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fresno City College placed #9 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the city of Fresno, Fresno City College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,378, while out-of-state students pay about $8,638. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $6,187 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Fresno City College generally make around $32,658. That is a strong return on a $6,187 median debt.
Reedley College placed #10 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Reedley College is a large public school located in the town of Reedley. Students from in state pay about $1,378 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,638. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $6,500. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Reedley College generally make around $30,520. Set against $6,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of The Sequoias came in at #11 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. College Of The Sequoias is a large public school located in the city of Visalia. In-state tuition and fees average $1,394, with out-of-state students paying around $9,038. Students borrow a median of $10,288 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from College Of The Sequoias generally make around $28,851. That is a strong return on a $10,288 median debt.
Mt San Antonio College placed #12 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,364, with out-of-state students paying around $10,464. Students borrow a median of $9,384 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Mt San Antonio College earn a median of $33,692 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
West Valley College came in at #13 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the suburb of Saratoga, West Valley College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $0 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,320 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $14,308. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from West Valley College generally make around $25,378. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Gavilan College earned the #14 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Gavilan College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Gilroy. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,508, with out-of-state students paying around $12,249. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $5,939 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Gavilan College generally make around $28,496. Set against $5,939 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Irvine Valley College landed the #15 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Set in the city of Irvine, Irvine Valley College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,156 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,860 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $6,672. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $49,156. Set against $6,672 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
California State University Dominguez Hills placed #16 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Located in the city of Carson, California State University Dominguez Hills is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,454, compared with $20,054 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,256 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of California State University Dominguez Hills earn a median of $36,092 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University Dominguez Hills admits about 93% of applicants.
Pasadena City College came in at #17 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the city of Pasadena, Pasadena City College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,180, with out-of-state students paying around $10,924. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $9,191 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $28,492. Set against $9,191 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ventura College landed the #18 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Ventura College is a large public school located in the city of Ventura. Students from in state pay about $1,426 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,250 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Ventura College earn a median of $99,778 early in their careers. Set against $20,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Yuba College placed #19 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Yuba College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Marysville. In-state tuition and fees average $1,128, while out-of-state students pay about $8,208. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $8,729. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Yuba College earn a median of $62,350 early in their careers. Set against $8,729 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Golden West College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Golden West College is a large public school located in the suburb of Huntington Beach. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,380, with out-of-state students paying around $11,628. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Golden West College earn a median of $82,984 early in their careers. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Imperial Valley College placed #21 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Located in the rural area of Imperial, Imperial Valley College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,126, while out-of-state students pay about $8,830. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $6,176. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $27,313. That is a strong return on a $6,176 median debt.
California State University Los Angeles landed the #22 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. California State University Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,164, while out-of-state students pay about $19,764. Students borrow a median of $11,679 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from California State University Los Angeles generally make around $32,974. Set against $11,679 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State University Los Angeles admits about 91% of applicants.
Victor Valley College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Victor Valley College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Victorville. In-state tuition and fees average $1,425, with out-of-state students paying around $10,125. Students borrow a median of $7,995 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. 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.
Sacramento City College earned the #24 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the city of Sacramento, Sacramento City College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,288, with out-of-state students paying around $12,616. Students borrow a median of $11,760 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Sacramento City College earn a median of $31,146 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,760 median debt.
Norco College came in at #25 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the suburb of Norco, Norco College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,428 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,498. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $8,203. Median earnings reach $51,206 ten years out. Set against $8,203 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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), 2026 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 · 161 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 42 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.