2027 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in New Jersey
[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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 37 schools to find the best return on investment for criminal justice & corrections students.
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2027 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in New Jersey
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
Our analysis ranked Middlesex County College the best value for a degree in criminal justice & corrections in New Jersey. Middlesex County College is a large public school located in the suburb of Edison. In-state tuition and fees average $4,764, with out-of-state students paying around $7,356. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $8,119 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $32,712. That is a strong return on a $8,119 median debt.
Essex County College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Essex County College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Newark. In-state tuition and fees average $5,415, while out-of-state students pay about $9,523. Students borrow a median of $12,472 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Essex County College earn a median of $31,908 early in their careers. Set against $12,472 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice & corrections will find it at Burlington County College, which ranked #3. Burlington County College is a large public school located in the suburb of Mount Laurel. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,990, while out-of-state students pay about $9,495. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $10,000 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Burlington County College earn a median of $27,775 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes Raritan Valley Community College one of the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Raritan Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Branchburg. In-state tuition and fees average $5,664, with out-of-state students paying around $7,584. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Raritan Valley Community College generally make around $47,248. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mercer County Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & corrections, landing the #5 spot this year. Mercer County Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of West Windsor. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,310, with out-of-state students paying around $9,174. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $12,250 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $45,389. That is a strong return on a $12,250 median debt.
Camden County College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Camden County College is a large public school located in the suburb of Blackwood. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,320, compared with $4,416 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $13,322 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Camden County College earn a median of $43,451 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,322 median debt.
Hudson County Community College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Hudson County Community College is a large public school located in the city of Jersey City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,384, with out-of-state students paying around $9,248. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $10,671. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $20,232. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Warren County Community College earned the #8 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the rural area of Washington, Warren County Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,460, with out-of-state students paying around $6,360. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $8,875 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Warren County Community College generally make around $22,140. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Union County College landed the #9 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Union County College is a large public school located in the suburb of Cranford. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,280, while out-of-state students pay about $9,500. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $11,343 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Union County College generally make around $30,629. That is a strong return on a $11,343 median debt.
Passaic County Community College placed #10 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the suburb of Paterson, Passaic County Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,300, compared with $10,560 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,625 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Passaic County Community College generally make around $23,559. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Sussex County Community College placed #11 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the rural area of Newton, Sussex County Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,544, with out-of-state students paying around $9,024. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $9,875. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Sussex County Community College earn a median of $32,079 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,875 median debt.
County College Of Morris ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the suburb of Randolph, County College Of Morris is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,210, compared with $14,310 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $9,040 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from County College Of Morris generally make around $23,024. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Atlantic Cape Community College came in at #13 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the rural area of Mays Landing, Atlantic Cape Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,594, compared with $8,350 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $12,002. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Atlantic Cape Community College generally make around $37,141. That is a strong return on a $12,002 median debt.
Cumberland County College came in at #14 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the city of Vineland, Cumberland County College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,160, while out-of-state students pay about $6,000. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $11,931. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Cumberland County College earn a median of $33,568 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,931 median debt.
Brookdale Community College came in at #15 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the suburb of Lincroft, Brookdale Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,270, while out-of-state students pay about $10,140. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $9,721. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $30,595. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ocean County College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the suburb of Toms River, Ocean County College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,906, compared with $6,970 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Ocean County College generally make around $27,321. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Salem Community College came in at #17 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Salem Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Carneys Point. Students from in state pay about $6,360 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,260. Students borrow a median of $17,232 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Salem Community College earn a median of $51,781 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,232 median debt.
Saint Peters College came in at #18 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Saint Peters College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Jersey City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,552. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $23,500. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Saint Peters College earn a median of $28,558 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,500 median debt. Saint Peters College admits about 90% of applicants.
Kean University earned the #19 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the suburb of Union, Kean University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,299, compared with $22,446 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $25,993 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Kean University generally make around $39,408. Set against $25,993 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Gloucester County College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the suburb of Sewell, Gloucester County College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,160, compared with $6,000 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,931 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Gloucester County College earn a median of $33,568 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,931 median debt.
Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus placed #21 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the suburb of Teaneck, Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $37,010 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,672 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus generally make around $39,055. That is a strong return on a $24,672 median debt. Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus admits about 91% of applicants.
William Paterson University Of New Jersey landed the #22 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. William Paterson University Of New Jersey is a large public school located in the suburb of Wayne. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,704, while out-of-state students pay about $25,344. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from William Paterson University Of New Jersey generally make around $35,864. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
New Jersey City University landed the #23 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Located in the city of Jersey City, New Jersey City University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,460. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $39,470. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. New Jersey City University admits about 98% of applicants.
Rutgers University Camden came in at #24 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the city of Camden, Rutgers University Camden is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,764, compared with $37,276 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $22,431. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Rutgers University Camden earn a median of $45,182 early in their careers. Set against $22,431 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
Rutgers University Newark came in at #25 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Rutgers University Newark is a large public school located in the city of Newark. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,250, compared with $36,762 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,431 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Rutgers University Newark earn a median of $45,182 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,431 median debt. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Rest of the Top 37 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
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 37 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 37 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.
