2027 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in Pennsylvania
[Criminal Justice & Corrections](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 56 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for criminal justice & corrections students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in Pennsylvania
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
Bucks County Community College earned the #1 spot for value among criminal justice & corrections schools in Pennsylvania. Set in the rural area of Newtown, Bucks County Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,646, compared with $13,926 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $10,169. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Bucks County Community College earn a median of $28,719 early in their careers. Set against $10,169 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Montgomery County Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the suburb of Blue Bell, Montgomery County Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,690, while out-of-state students pay about $17,250. Students borrow a median of $16,112 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Montgomery County Community College generally make around $58,964. 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 Delaware County Community College, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Media, Delaware County Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,930, with out-of-state students paying around $15,540. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $14,163 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Delaware County Community College earn a median of $57,464 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lehigh Carbon Community College earned it the #4 place for criminal justice & corrections. Lehigh Carbon Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Schnecksville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,280, with out-of-state students paying around $13,270. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Lehigh Carbon Community College earn a median of $33,360 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Butler County Community College one of the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the town of Butler, Butler County Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,910, with out-of-state students paying around $12,000. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $10,836 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Butler County Community College generally make around $41,492. Set against $10,836 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northampton County Area Community College earned the #6 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the suburb of Bethlehem, Northampton County Area Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,550, compared with $15,270 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $17,449 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $31,430. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the rural area of Johnstown, Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,110, compared with $13,350 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $11,315. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Pennsylvania Highlands Community College generally make around $31,499. That is a strong return on a $11,315 median debt.
Community College Of Philadelphia landed the #8 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Community College Of Philadelphia is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,632 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,744. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $14,250. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Community College Of Philadelphia generally make around $34,224. That is a strong return on a $14,250 median debt.
Luzerne County Community College came in at #9 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Luzerne County Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Nanticoke. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,600, while out-of-state students pay about $16,260. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $12,000. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Luzerne County Community College generally make around $32,847. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt.
Reading Area Community College came in at #10 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Reading Area Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Reading. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,480, while out-of-state students pay about $12,510. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $13,979 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Reading Area Community College earn a median of $49,248 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Community College Of Beaver County placed #11 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the suburb of Monaca, Community College Of Beaver County is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,500 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,700. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $16,802 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $49,354. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Westmoreland County Community College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the suburb of Youngwood, Westmoreland County Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,306, with out-of-state students paying around $14,728. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $37,439 ten years after entry. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the town of Bloomsburg, Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,046, with out-of-state students paying around $22,870. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $37,839. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg came in at #14 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg is a very large public school located in the city of Harrisburg. In-state tuition and fees average $6,975, while out-of-state students pay about $12,472. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $15,750. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $37,916. That is a strong return on a $15,750 median debt.
Community College Of Allegheny County ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Community College Of Allegheny County is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,956, while out-of-state students pay about $12,583. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $12,004. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Community College Of Allegheny County earn a median of $32,921 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,004 median debt.
Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus landed the #16 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Located in the town of Indiana, Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,380, while out-of-state students pay about $16,297. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $26,513 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $42,972. That is a strong return on a $26,513 median debt. Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus admits about 91% of applicants.
Holy Family University earned the #17 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Holy Family University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,330. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Holy Family University generally make around $33,496. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Lincoln University Of Pennsylvania came in at #18 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the suburb of Lincoln University, Lincoln University Of Pennsylvania is a small public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,512, with out-of-state students paying around $19,384. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $35,000. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Lincoln University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $28,847. Set against $35,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 66%.
East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the town of East Stroudsburg, East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,236, compared with $19,202 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $26,888 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $35,206 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,888 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Abington ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Pennsylvania State University Penn State Abington is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Abington. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,268, compared with $25,664 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $26,000. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Pennsylvania State University Penn State Abington earn a median of $37,240 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Pennsylvania State University Penn State Abington admits about 97% of applicants.
York College Pennsylvania earned the #21 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the suburb of York, York College Pennsylvania is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $25,588 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $26,000. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $42,175. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Pennsylvania Western University earned the #22 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the town of California, Pennsylvania Western University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,436 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $16,054. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $26,966 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $36,208. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Hazleton earned the #23 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the suburb of Hazleton, Pennsylvania State University Penn State Hazleton is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,208, while out-of-state students pay about $25,392. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $26,000. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $37,240. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Waynesburg University placed #24 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Located in the town of Waynesburg, Waynesburg University is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $30,480 in tuition and fees. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Waynesburg University generally make around $37,582. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Mercyhurst College earned the #25 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the city of Erie, Mercyhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,770. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $19,274 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Mercyhurst College generally make around $38,557. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s criminal justice & corrections value ranking:
More Criminal Justice & Corrections Rankings
View All Criminal Justice & Corrections Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 56 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 56 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.
