by our College Data Analytics Team
[Criminal Justice & Corrections](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 10 schools to find the best return on investment for criminal justice & corrections students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the criminal justice & corrections degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in criminal justice & corrections, no school beat Charter Oak State College this year. Located in the suburb of New Britain, Charter Oak State College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,506 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $23,000. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $68,956. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Capital Community College earned it the #2 place for criminal justice & corrections. Located in the city of New Britain, Capital Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,338, compared with $15,596 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $12,059 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $31,345. Set against $12,059 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Connecticut State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & corrections, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of New Britain, Central Connecticut State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,050, while out-of-state students pay about $16,550. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $24,340 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Central Connecticut State University generally make around $60,151. Set against $24,340 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice & corrections will find it at Western Connecticut State University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Danbury, Western Connecticut State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,401, with out-of-state students paying around $16,901. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $24,875 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Western Connecticut State University generally make around $38,235. Set against $24,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Western Connecticut State University admits about 87% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Post University one of the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the city of Waterbury, Post University is a very large private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,922. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $33,444 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Post University generally make around $39,887. That is a strong return on a $33,444 median debt.
University Of Bridgeport ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the city of Bridgeport, University Of Bridgeport is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $35,760. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $26,250 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $29,284. That is a strong return on a $26,250 median debt. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Albertus Magnus College placed #7 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Albertus Magnus College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Haven. In-state tuition and fees average $41,908. Students borrow a median of $40,000 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Albertus Magnus College generally make around $43,581. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Albertus Magnus College admits about 59% of applicants.
University Of New Haven came in at #8 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. University Of New Haven is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of West Haven. In-state tuition and fees average $47,332. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $47,026. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Quinnipiac University earned the #9 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the suburb of Hamden, Quinnipiac University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $55,480. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Quinnipiac University generally make around $41,989. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Sacred Heart University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the suburb of Fairfield, Sacred Heart University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $50,404. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Sacred Heart University earn a median of $43,245 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Sacred Heart University admits about 65% of applicants.
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 · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.