2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Southeast 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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 532 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Southeast Region
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
St Petersburg College tops our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools in the Southeast Region. Located in the city of St. Petersburg, St Petersburg College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,682, while out-of-state students pay about $9,286. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $14,080. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $48,218. Set against $14,080 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Seminole State College Of Florida came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the city of Sanford, Seminole State College Of Florida is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,122 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,447. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $12,942. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $36,589. Set against $12,942 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice & corrections will find it at Florida State College At Jacksonville, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Jacksonville, Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,657, compared with $9,631 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,796 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $60,055. Set against $15,796 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Georgia Northwestern Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & corrections, landing the #4 spot this year. Georgia Northwestern Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Rome. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,300, compared with $5,868 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $8,492. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Georgia Northwestern Technical College earn a median of $41,229 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,492 median debt.
Wilkes Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & corrections, landing the #5 spot this year. Wilkes Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Wilkesboro. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,572, with out-of-state students paying around $8,716. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $11,000. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Wilkes Community College generally make around $41,251. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt.
Florida Gateway College came in at #6 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Florida Gateway College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Lake City. In-state tuition and fees average $3,100, with out-of-state students paying around $11,747. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $7,500 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Florida Gateway College earn a median of $44,048 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,500 median debt.
Atlanta Technical College placed #7 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the city of Atlanta, Atlanta Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,382, while out-of-state students pay about $5,950. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $17,655 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $35,441. Set against $17,655 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Chattahoochee Technical College landed the #8 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Chattahoochee Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of Marietta. In-state tuition and fees average $3,540, compared with $6,108 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $9,616 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $44,673. That is a strong return on a $9,616 median debt.
Gulf Coast State College landed the #9 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Set in the city of Panama City, Gulf Coast State College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,370 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,635. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $6,250. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Gulf Coast State College earn a median of $45,648 early in their careers. Set against $6,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Trident Technical College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the city of Charleston, Trident Technical College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,546 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,620. Students borrow a median of $18,116 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Trident Technical College earn a median of $50,166 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Carolina Community College placed #11 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Located in the town of Sanford, Central Carolina Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,711, compared with $8,855 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $10,266. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $28,734. Set against $10,266 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Chipola College landed the #12 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Set in the town of Marianna, Chipola College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,120, while out-of-state students pay about $8,950. Students borrow a median of $8,847 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Chipola College earn a median of $38,366 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,847 median debt.
Southern Regional Technical College landed the #13 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Set in the town of Thomasville, Southern Regional Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,007 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,575. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $9,086 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $44,007. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Coastal Pines Technical College came in at #14 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the town of Waycross, Coastal Pines Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,268, compared with $5,836 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $5,812 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Coastal Pines Technical College earn a median of $39,090 early in their careers. Set against $5,812 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Durham Technical Community College landed the #15 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Set in the city of Durham, Durham Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,240 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,531. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $17,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Durham Technical Community College generally make around $49,893. That is a strong return on a $17,750 median debt.
South Georgia Technical College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the town of Americus, South Georgia Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,992, while out-of-state students pay about $7,202. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $10,423. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from South Georgia Technical College generally make around $40,497. That is a strong return on a $10,423 median debt.
Indian River State College landed the #17 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Set in the suburb of Fort Pierce, Indian River State College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,764, while out-of-state students pay about $10,201. Students borrow a median of $9,176 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Indian River State College earn a median of $51,825 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,176 median debt.
North Florida Community College landed the #18 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Located in the rural area of Madison, North Florida Community College is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $2,994 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,460. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $7,902. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $46,266. That is a strong return on a $7,902 median debt.
York Technical College earned the #19 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the city of Rock Hill, York Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,036, while out-of-state students pay about $13,340. Students borrow a median of $8,500 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $44,401. That is a strong return on a $8,500 median debt.
Cleveland Community College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the town of Shelby, Cleveland Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,602, while out-of-state students pay about $8,746. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $7,131. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Cleveland Community College generally make around $44,116. That is a strong return on a $7,131 median debt.
Hillsborough Community College placed #21 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Located in the city of Tampa, Hillsborough Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,491, while out-of-state students pay about $9,088. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $15,789 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Hillsborough Community College generally make around $47,631. Set against $15,789 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Piedmont Community College earned the #22 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,792, with out-of-state students paying around $8,936. Students borrow a median of $11,861 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Central Piedmont Community College generally make around $44,616. That is a strong return on a $11,861 median debt.
South Florida State College landed the #23 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Located in the suburb of Avon Park, South Florida State College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,165, while out-of-state students pay about $11,859. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $8,204 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $42,415. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Vance Granville Community College placed #24 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Vance Granville Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Henderson. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,944, with out-of-state students paying around $6,552. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $14,833 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Vance Granville Community College generally make around $39,750. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins landed the #25 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins is a large public school located in the city of Warner Robins. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,448, while out-of-state students pay about $6,016. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $11,693. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins generally make around $39,765. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for criminal justice & corrections this year:
Narrow Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools by State
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 532 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 207 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.
