2027 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in Illinois
[Criminal Justice & Corrections](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong criminal justice & corrections education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 42 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for criminal justice & corrections students.
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2027 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in Illinois
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the criminal justice & corrections degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools
Moraine Valley Community College tops our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools in Illinois. Located in the suburb of Palos Hills, Moraine Valley Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,822, while out-of-state students pay about $9,846. Students borrow a median of $11,149 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Moraine Valley Community College generally make around $43,844. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Joliet Junior College earned it the #2 place for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,530, with out-of-state students paying around $13,800. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $11,995. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Joliet Junior College generally make around $40,118. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Illinois Valley Community College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Illinois Valley Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Oglesby. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,200, with out-of-state students paying around $16,385. Students borrow a median of $8,099 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $33,224. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lewis And Clark Community College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Godfrey. Students from in state pay about $4,340 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,840. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $9,120. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Lewis And Clark Community College generally make around $31,763. 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 Triton College, which ranked #5. Located in the suburb of River Grove, Triton College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,070 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,330 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $12,994. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $43,278. Set against $12,994 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kankakee Community College landed the #6 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Set in the city of Kankakee, Kankakee Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,220, while out-of-state students pay about $25,830. Students borrow a median of $13,289 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Kankakee Community College earn a median of $60,509 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Oakton Community College came in at #7 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the city of Des Plaines, Oakton Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,985, with out-of-state students paying around $12,462. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $7,750. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Oakton Community College generally make around $48,838. Set against $7,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Elgin Community College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Elgin Community College is a large public school located in the city of Elgin. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,252, with out-of-state students paying around $9,516. Students borrow a median of $7,727 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Elgin Community College generally make around $43,975. That is a strong return on a $7,727 median debt.
Kishwaukee College placed #9 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the rural area of Malta, Kishwaukee College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,560, while out-of-state students pay about $13,680. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $10,328. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Kishwaukee College generally make around $30,398. Set against $10,328 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Morton College earned the #10 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the suburb of Cicero, Morton College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,884 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,028 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,734 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $31,143. That is a strong return on a $7,734 median debt.
Mchenry County College placed #11 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Located in the rural area of Crystal Lake, Mchenry County College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,162, with out-of-state students paying around $14,399. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $7,440 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $24,177. That is a strong return on a $7,440 median debt.
College Of Dupage landed the #12 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Set in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,560, with out-of-state students paying around $12,750. Students borrow a median of $7,521 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of College Of Dupage earn a median of $28,749 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,521 median debt.
Kaskaskia College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the rural area of Centralia, Kaskaskia College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,800, compared with $12,570 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $7,875 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Kaskaskia College earn a median of $45,658 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,875 median debt.
City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College landed the #14 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Set in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,590 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,150. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $8,093 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $33,073. Set against $8,093 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of Lake County came in at #15 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. College Of Lake County is a very large public school located in the suburb of Grayslake. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,788, compared with $14,400 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,785 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from College Of Lake County generally make around $50,314. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Illinois At Springfield landed the #16 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Set in the city of Springfield, University Of Illinois At Springfield is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,557, compared with $20,139 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $22,418. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of University Of Illinois At Springfield earn a median of $41,064 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,418 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
University Of Illinois At Chicago earned the #17 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $15,949 in tuition and fees, compared with $32,009 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,875 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $34,551. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College earned the #18 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,590, while out-of-state students pay about $15,150. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $7,500. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $33,326. That is a strong return on a $7,500 median debt.
Saint Xavier University earned the #19 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $38,945 in tuition and fees. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Saint Xavier University earn a median of $39,033 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Saint Xavier University admits about 84% of applicants.
Southwestern Illinois College came in at #20 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the suburb of Belleville, Southwestern Illinois College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,230, with out-of-state students paying around $6,720. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $11,000. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Southwestern Illinois College generally make around $44,345. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt.
City Colleges Of Chicago Olive Harvey College came in at #21 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. City Colleges Of Chicago Olive Harvey College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,590, while out-of-state students pay about $15,150. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $8,478 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of City Colleges Of Chicago Olive Harvey College earn a median of $25,842 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,478 median debt.
Harper College earned the #22 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Harper College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Palatine. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,894, while out-of-state students pay about $11,874. Students borrow a median of $10,963 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $38,474. That is a strong return on a $10,963 median debt.
Governors State University placed #23 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the suburb of University Park, Governors State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,004. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $22,889 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $42,456. Set against $22,889 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Governors State University admits about 48% of applicants.
Eastern Illinois University landed the #24 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Set in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,377, while out-of-state students pay about $15,859. Students borrow a median of $24,293 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $40,489. That is a strong return on a $24,293 median debt. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
Southeastern Illinois College landed the #25 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Located in the rural area of Harrisburg, Southeastern Illinois College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,560, compared with $6,780 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $33,763 ten years after entry.
Rest of the Top 42 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in criminal justice & corrections:
More Criminal Justice & Corrections Rankings
View All Criminal Justice & Corrections Rankings >
Notes and References
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 · 42 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 42 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.
