2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in Oregon
[Criminal Justice & Corrections](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 21 schools to find the best return on investment for criminal justice & corrections students.
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2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in Oregon
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in criminal justice & corrections, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools
Leading the list is Chemeketa Community College, our #1 best value for criminal justice & corrections in Oregon. Chemeketa Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Salem. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,345, compared with $14,040 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $15,755 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Chemeketa Community College earn a median of $33,406 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,755 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Portland Community College earned it the #2 place for criminal justice & corrections. Portland Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Portland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,220, while out-of-state students pay about $10,440. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Portland Community College earn a median of $45,061 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Linn Benton Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Linn Benton Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Albany. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,317, with out-of-state students paying around $16,736. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $17,959. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Linn Benton Community College earn a median of $43,257 early in their careers. 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 Portland State University, which ranked #4. Portland State University is a very large public school located in the city of Portland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,118, compared with $29,136 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $26,641. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Portland State University earn a median of $45,401 early in their careers. Set against $26,641 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Portland State University admits about 91% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Southern Oregon University earned it the #5 place for criminal justice & corrections. Southern Oregon University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Ashland. Students from in state pay about $12,762 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $31,887. Students borrow a median of $22,000 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Southern Oregon University earn a median of $40,553 early in their careers. Set against $22,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Western Oregon University came in at #6 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the town of Monmouth, Western Oregon University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,514, compared with $32,169 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $40,289. Set against $24,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Western Oregon University admits about 98% of applicants.
More Criminal Justice & Corrections 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 · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.
