2027 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
[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.
College Factual analyzed 37 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools.
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2027 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in criminal justice & corrections, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools
Leading the list is Utah Valley University, our #1 best value for criminal justice & corrections in the Rocky Mountains Region. Set in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,507, compared with $18,489 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,016 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $44,051. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pikes Peak Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the suburb of Colorado Springs, Pikes Peak Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,510, compared with $17,110 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,066 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Pikes Peak Community College generally make around $50,546. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of Southern Idaho came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the city of Twin Falls, College Of Southern Idaho is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,360, with out-of-state students paying around $6,840. Students borrow a median of $11,130 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from College Of Southern Idaho generally make around $30,479. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes Snow College one of the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the town of Ephraim, Snow College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,338, with out-of-state students paying around $14,288. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $10,440 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Snow College generally make around $42,776. Set against $10,440 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #5 makes Laramie County Community College one of the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Laramie County Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Cheyenne. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,613, compared with $10,913 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,309 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Laramie County Community College generally make around $51,302. That is a strong return on a $15,309 median debt.
Community College Of Aurora earned the #6 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the city of Aurora, Community College Of Aurora is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,470, compared with $17,070 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $15,365 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Community College Of Aurora earn a median of $38,587 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,365 median debt.
Colorado Mountain College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the town of Glenwood Springs, Colorado Mountain College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,616, with out-of-state students paying around $12,840. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $19,500. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $68,129. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northwest College placed #8 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Located in the town of Powell, Northwest College is a small public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,962, while out-of-state students pay about $11,262. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $12,996 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Northwest College earn a median of $40,014 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Red Rocks Community College earned the #9 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the suburb of Lakewood, Red Rocks Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,859, compared with $17,459 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,667 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Red Rocks Community College generally make around $72,583. Set against $17,667 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of Western Idaho earned the #10 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. College Of Western Idaho is a very large public school located in the rural area of Nampa. In-state tuition and fees average $3,446, while out-of-state students pay about $7,454. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $7,381. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $35,959.
Salt Lake Community College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the suburb of Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,426, with out-of-state students paying around $14,244. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $6,334 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $44,042. Set against $6,334 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Sheridan College came in at #12 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the town of Sheridan, Sheridan College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,830, with out-of-state students paying around $11,130. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $13,910 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Sheridan College generally make around $49,039. That is a strong return on a $13,910 median debt.
Weber State University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the city of Ogden, Weber State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,557 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,545. Students borrow a median of $19,828 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Weber State University earn a median of $43,281 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Delta Montrose Technical College placed #14 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the rural area of Delta, Delta Montrose Technical College is a small public institution. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $4,750 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Delta Montrose Technical College earn a median of $56,589 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southern Utah University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the town of Cedar City, Southern Utah University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,962 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,192. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $17,500. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Southern Utah University earn a median of $39,744 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Bridgerland Technical College placed #16 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Located in the city of Logan, Bridgerland Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $28,884. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Aims Community College landed the #17 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Located in the city of Greeley, Aims Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,258, with out-of-state students paying around $11,786. Students borrow a median of $9,062 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $57,841. Set against $9,062 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Trinidad State Junior College came in at #18 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the town of Trinidad, Trinidad State Junior College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,608, compared with $7,318 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $10,502 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Trinidad State Junior College generally make around $42,381. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
North Idaho College landed the #19 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Set in the city of Coeur d'Alene, North Idaho College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,396, with out-of-state students paying around $8,736. Students borrow a median of $14,688 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of North Idaho College earn a median of $49,489 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,688 median debt.
University Of Colorado Denver placed #20 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the city of Denver, University Of Colorado Denver is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,383, with out-of-state students paying around $29,391. Students borrow a median of $22,250 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $45,814. Set against $22,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Colorado Denver admits about 75% of applicants.
Arapahoe Community College came in at #21 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Arapahoe Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Littleton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,434, with out-of-state students paying around $17,034. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $21,351 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Arapahoe Community College earn a median of $54,371 early in their careers. Set against $21,351 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Otero Junior College landed the #22 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Otero Junior College is a small public school located in the town of La Junta. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,560, while out-of-state students pay about $7,270. Students borrow a median of $21,759 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $50,431. That is a strong return on a $21,759 median debt.
Pueblo Community College landed the #23 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Pueblo Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Pueblo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,049, with out-of-state students paying around $17,649. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $7,656 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $52,241. That is a strong return on a $7,656 median debt.
Idaho State University earned the #24 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Idaho State University is a large public school located in the city of Pocatello. Students from in state pay about $8,610 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $27,720. Students borrow a median of $24,640 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $51,446. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Wyoming placed #25 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the town of Laramie, University Of Wyoming is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,768, while out-of-state students pay about $24,178. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $19,393. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of University Of Wyoming earn a median of $38,797 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,393 median debt. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 37 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in criminal justice & corrections:
Narrow Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools by State
More Criminal Justice & Corrections Rankings
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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.
