[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 358 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools.
For return on investment in criminal justice & corrections, no school beat St Petersburg College this year. Set in the city of St. Petersburg, St Petersburg College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,682, while out-of-state students pay about $9,286. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $14,080 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $48,218. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Chattahoochee Technical College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the suburb of Marietta, Chattahoochee Technical College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,540 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,108. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $9,616. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Chattahoochee Technical College generally make around $44,673. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Indian River State College one of the best values for criminal justice & corrections. 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, compared with $10,201 for out-of-state students. 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. Set against $9,176 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Wilkes Community College earned it the #4 place for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the town of Wilkesboro, Wilkes Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,572 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,716 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $11,000. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Wilkes Community College earn a median of $41,251 early in their careers. 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 Hillsborough Community College, which ranked #5. Hillsborough Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. Students from in state pay about $2,491 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,088. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $15,789. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Hillsborough Community College earn a median of $47,631 early in their careers. Set against $15,789 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Chipola College landed the #6 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Chipola College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Marianna. Students from in state pay about $3,120 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,950. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $8,847 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Chipola College generally make around $38,366. That is a strong return on a $8,847 median debt.
North Florida Community College came in at #7 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the rural area of Madison, North Florida Community College is a small public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,994, with out-of-state students paying around $11,460. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $7,902. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of North Florida Community College earn a median of $46,266 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Florida State College At Jacksonville earned the #8 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the city of Jacksonville, Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,657 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,631. Students borrow a median of $15,796 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Florida State College At Jacksonville earn a median of $60,055 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Atlanta Technical College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Atlanta Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Atlanta. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,382, while out-of-state students pay about $5,950. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $17,655. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Atlanta Technical College earn a median of $35,441 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southern Regional Technical College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $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.
Wayne Community College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the city of Goldsboro, Wayne Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,566, while out-of-state students pay about $8,710. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $40,557. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Coastal Pines Technical College landed the #12 spot for criminal justice & corrections value 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, while out-of-state students pay about $5,836. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $5,812. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Coastal Pines Technical College earn a median of $39,090 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Trident Technical College landed the #13 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Located in the city of Charleston, Trident Technical College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,546 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,620. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $18,116. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Trident Technical College generally make around $50,166. Set against $18,116 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Vance Granville Community College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the town of Henderson, Vance Granville Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,944, with out-of-state students paying around $6,552. Students borrow a median of $14,833 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Vance Granville Community College earn a median of $39,750 early in their careers. Set against $14,833 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Durham Technical Community College placed #15 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Located in the city of Durham, Durham Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,240, while out-of-state students pay about $7,531. Students borrow a median of $17,750 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $49,893. Set against $17,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South Florida State College placed #16 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Located in the suburb of Avon Park, South Florida State College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,165, with out-of-state students paying around $11,859. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $8,204 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from South Florida State College generally make around $42,415. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Johnston Community College placed #17 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Johnston Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Smithfield. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,756, with out-of-state students paying around $8,900. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $9,490 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $37,472. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
South Georgia Technical College landed the #18 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Set in the town of Americus, South Georgia Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,992 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,202. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $10,423. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of South Georgia Technical College earn a median of $40,497 early in their careers. Set against $10,423 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cleveland Community College earned the #19 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the town of Shelby, Cleveland Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,602, compared with $8,746 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $7,131 in student loans. 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.
Lenoir Community College landed the #20 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Set in the town of Kinston, Lenoir Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,578, while out-of-state students pay about $8,822. Students borrow a median of $9,984 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Lenoir Community College generally make around $38,736. Set against $9,984 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wilson Community College earned the #21 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the town of Wilson, Wilson Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,572, with out-of-state students paying around $8,716. Students borrow a median of $17,060 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Wilson Community College generally make around $48,304. That is a strong return on a $17,060 median debt.
Central Piedmont Community College ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $8,936. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $11,861. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Central Piedmont Community College earn a median of $44,616 early in their careers. Set against $11,861 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pensacola State College came in at #23 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the city of Pensacola, Pensacola State College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,361, with out-of-state students paying around $9,463. Students borrow a median of $9,191 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Pensacola State College generally make around $45,811. Set against $9,191 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northwest Florida State College ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Northwest Florida State College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Niceville. In-state tuition and fees average $2,583, compared with $10,612 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,808 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $48,087. Set against $11,808 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Robeson Community College came in at #25 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Robeson Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Lumberton. In-state tuition and fees average $2,604, compared with $8,748 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,949 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Robeson Community College generally make around $52,951. Set against $9,949 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for criminal justice & corrections this year:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 358 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 358 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).
[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.
