2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in Maryland

[Criminal Justice & Corrections](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong criminal justice & corrections education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 25 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools.
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2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in Maryland
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in criminal justice & corrections, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools
Our analysis ranked Frederick Community College the best value for a degree in criminal justice & corrections in Maryland. Located in the city of Frederick, Frederick Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,849, while out-of-state students pay about $10,042. Students borrow a median of $10,778 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $43,733. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Carroll Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & corrections, landing the #2 spot this year. Carroll Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Westminster. Students from in state pay about $4,308 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,158. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $17,398 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Carroll Community College generally make around $49,058. That is a strong return on a $17,398 median debt.
The Community College Of Baltimore County came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the suburb of Baltimore, The Community College Of Baltimore County is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,110, while out-of-state students pay about $10,182. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $14,611. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of The Community College Of Baltimore County earn a median of $70,610 early in their careers. Set against $14,611 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #4 makes Wor Wic Community College one of the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Wor Wic Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Salisbury. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,840, with out-of-state students paying around $8,400. Students borrow a median of $14,000 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Wor Wic Community College generally make around $53,813. That is a strong return on a $14,000 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Coppin State University earned it the #5 place for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the city of Baltimore, Coppin State University is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,100 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,024. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $29,000. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $31,419. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Coppin State University admits about 46% of applicants.
College Of Southern Maryland placed #6 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Located in the rural area of La Plata, College Of Southern Maryland is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,200, compared with $9,450 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $9,728. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from College Of Southern Maryland generally make around $51,719. Set against $9,728 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Prince Georges Community College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the suburb of Largo, Prince Georges Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,034, compared with $8,762 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,949 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Prince Georges Community College generally make around $56,960. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Maryland University College placed #8 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. University Of Maryland University College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Adelphi. In-state tuition and fees average $8,136, while out-of-state students pay about $12,336. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $25,062 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $55,479. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Frostburg State University landed the #9 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Set in the town of Frostburg, Frostburg State University is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,220, compared with $25,814 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Frostburg State University generally make around $40,844. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Maryland Eastern Shore came in at #10 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the town of Princess Anne, University Of Maryland Eastern Shore is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,076, with out-of-state students paying around $20,122. Students borrow a median of $28,027 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of University Of Maryland Eastern Shore earn a median of $37,393 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,027 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Anne Arundel Community College placed #11 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Anne Arundel Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Arnold. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,322, compared with $11,522 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,947 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $59,894. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Baltimore ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the city of Baltimore, University Of Baltimore is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $9,992 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $23,984. Students borrow a median of $25,500 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of University Of Baltimore earn a median of $48,991 early in their careers. Set against $25,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Bowie State University landed the #13 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Set in the suburb of Bowie, Bowie State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,218 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,938. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $29,750 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $41,367. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Strayer University Maryland landed the #14 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Set in the suburb of Suitland, Strayer University Maryland is a small private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,920. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $56,937 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Strayer University Maryland earn a median of $43,405 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $56,937 median debt.
Mcdaniel College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the town of Westminster, Mcdaniel College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $52,081. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $23,247 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $54,904. That is a strong return on a $23,247 median debt. Mcdaniel College admits about 78% of applicants.
Hood College earned the #16 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the city of Frederick, Hood College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $47,700. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Hood College generally make around $41,764. Set against $25,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Hood College admits about 78% of applicants.
Stevenson University landed the #17 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Set in the suburb of Owings Mills, Stevenson University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $40,560. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Stevenson University earn a median of $38,745 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 79%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 25 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.