2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s” ranking - to help you make that decision.
With 113,581 degrees handed out in 2019-2020, criminal justice and corrections is the 6th most popular major in the United States. 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.
At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 6,653 criminal justice and corrections graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s” ranking analyzed 237 colleges that offered a degree in criminal justice and corrections. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent criminal justice and corrections programs, but they also cost less that 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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
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More Ways to Rank Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools
When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s” list to help you make the college decision.
To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s
The colleges and universities below are the best for master’s degree criminal justice students.
Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice & Corrections
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend American Public University System. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s list. American Public University System is a large private for-profit school situated in Charles Town, West Virginia. It awarded 121 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.
American Military University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at American Public University System are $7,050, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at American Military University
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Arizona State University - Skysong. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s list. Arizona State University - Skysong is a public institution located in Scottsdale, Arizona. The school has a large population, and it awarded 200 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at ASU - Skysong, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Arizona State University - Skysong are $6,724, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at ASU - Skysong
Out of the 237 schools in the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s that were part of this year’s ranking, University of the Cumberlands landed the #3 spot on the list. Cumberlands is located in Williamsburg, Kentucky and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 43 masters’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.
Cumberlands also claimed a top spot on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of the Cumberlands are $4,582, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at University of the Cumberlands
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Salve Regina University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s. Newport, Rhode Island is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s criminal justice degrees to 46 students in 2019-2020.
Salve Regina not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Salve Regina are $11,370.
Full Salve Regina University Criminal Justice & Corrections Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Phoenix - Arizona. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s. Tempe, Arizona is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out masters’s criminal justice degrees to 148 students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UOPX - Arizona, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UOPX - Arizona are $17,096, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Liberty University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s ranking. Liberty University is a large school located in Lynchburg, Virginia that handed out 366 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Liberty University is also in the top of our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. Average graduate tuition and fees at Liberty University are $8,349, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full Liberty University Criminal Justice & Corrections Report
Wilmington University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s ranking. Wilmington University is a private not-for-profit institution located in New Castle, Delaware. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 60 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Wilmington University are $8,834, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Wilmington University
Purdue University Global did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #8. Indianapolis, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s criminal justice degrees to 51 students in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue University Global are $10,674.
Full Purdue University Global Criminal Justice & Corrections Report
Simpson College landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s ranking. Simpson College is located in Indianola, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 9 masters’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.
Simpson College also claimed a top spot on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Simpson College are $8,868, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Simpson College
With a ranking of #10, Columbia College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s list. This small school is located in Columbia, South Carolina, and it awarded 26 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.
Columbia College South Carolina excels when it comes to criminal justice quality. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Columbia College are $10,911, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Sam Houston State University landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s ranking. Sam Houston State University is located in Huntsville, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 116 masters’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our master’s degree criminal justice students list, SHSU has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Sam Houston State University are $15,704, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Sam Houston State University
Mississippi College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s list. Mississippi College is located in Clinton, Mississippi and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 13 masters’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.
MC also claimed a top spot on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at MC are $12,322.
With a ranking of #13, Bellevue University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s list. Bellevue University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Bellevue, Nebraska. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 36 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Bellevue University also claimed a top spot on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Bellevue University are $11,385.
Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Bellevue University
Westfield State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #14. Westfield is a medium-sized school located in Westfield, Massachusetts that handed out 7 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Westfield State University are $6,696, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Xavier University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s ranking. Located in Cincinnati, Ohio, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 18 degrees to qualified masters’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our master’s degree criminal justice students list, Xavier has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Xavier are $12,076, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
With a ranking of #16, Seattle University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s list. Located in Seattle, Washington, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 20 diplomas to qualified masters’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.
Seattle U did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Seattle U are $14,040, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Seattle University
Walden University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #16. Walden University is a private for-profit institution located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The school has a large population, and it awarded 152 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
On top of its placing in this ranking, Walden University also did well on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category. Average graduate tuition and fees at Walden University are $10,716, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Full Walden University Criminal Justice & Corrections Report
With a ranking of #18, Western Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s list. This medium-sized school is located in Macomb, Illinois, and it awarded 49 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.
WIU excels when it comes to criminal justice quality. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. Average graduate tuition and fees at WIU are $11,996, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Full Western Illinois University Criminal Justice & Corrections Report
Ferris State University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s list. Ferris is a fairly large public school situated in Big Rapids, Michigan. It awarded 24 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Ferris are $7,908, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Ferris
Fitchburg State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #19. Fitchburg State University is a public institution located in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 7 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Fitchburg State University are $6,012, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Fitchburg State University
Capella University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s list. Capella University is a private for-profit institution located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The school has a large population, and it awarded 79 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Capella University are $14,767.
Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Capella University
Grand Canyon University landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s ranking. Grand Canyon University is a large private for-profit school situated in Phoenix, Arizona. It awarded 93 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Grand Canyon University are $11,436, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Full Grand Canyon University Criminal Justice & Corrections Report
With a ranking of #24, Concordia University, Saint Paul did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s list. Saint Paul, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s criminal justice degrees to 21 students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Concordia University, Saint Paul are $8,550, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Concordia University, Saint Paul
Illinois State University landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s ranking. Illinois State University is a public institution located in Normal, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 7 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Illinois State are $11,069, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Illinois State
Rest of the Best 36 in Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s
Not only did these schools make the top 36 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
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Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master's Degree Schools
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Criminal Justice & Corrections students
Most Popular Master's Degree Online Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools
Criminal Justice & Corrections students
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice & Corrections (Income $0-$30k)
Criminal Justice & Corrections students with family income less than $30k
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice & Corrections (Income $48-$75k)
Criminal Justice & Corrections students with family income $48-$75k
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice & Corrections (Income Over $110k)
Criminal Justice & Corrections students with family income exceeding $110k
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Most Popular Master's Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice & Corrections
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Criminal Justice & Corrections students getting aid
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice & Corrections (Income $30-$48k)
Criminal Justice & Corrections students with family income $30-$48k
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice & Corrections (Income $75-$110k)
Criminal Justice & Corrections students with family income $75-$110k
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice & Corrections
Criminal Justice & Corrections students
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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