2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in Alabama
[Criminal Justice & Corrections](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 30 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 Alabama
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 Northeast Alabama Community College, our #1 best value for criminal justice & corrections in Alabama. Northeast Alabama Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Rainsville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,040, compared with $8,910 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,459 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Northeast Alabama Community College generally make around $35,119. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at George C Wallace State Community College Dothan earned it the #2 place for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the city of Dothan, George C Wallace State Community College Dothan is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,980, compared with $8,850 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $9,942. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of George C Wallace State Community College Dothan earn a median of $34,762 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,942 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice & corrections will find it at University Of North Alabama, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Florence, University Of North Alabama is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,120, compared with $22,320 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $24,125 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $31,595. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Jefferson State Community College earned it the #4 place for criminal justice & corrections. Located in the city of Birmingham, Jefferson State Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,100, with out-of-state students paying around $8,970. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $15,083. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $42,861. That is a strong return on a $15,083 median debt.
Troy University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Troy University is a large public school located in the town of Troy. Students from in state pay about $10,176 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,352 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $25,000. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Troy University earn a median of $43,451 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville landed the #6 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Set in the rural area of Hanceville, George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,220, compared with $9,090 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,146 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $35,238. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Talladega College earned the #7 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the town of Talladega, Talladega College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,650. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $31,062. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Talladega College earn a median of $27,568 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $31,062 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Alabama State University earned the #8 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the city of Montgomery, Alabama State University is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,248, compared with $19,576 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $32,261 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Alabama State University generally make around $32,898. Set against $32,261 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Auburn University At Montgomery placed #9 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the city of Montgomery, Auburn University At Montgomery is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,700, while out-of-state students pay about $20,668. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $25,635 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $38,710. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Miles College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Miles College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Fairfield. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,314. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $35,881. Graduates go on to earn a median of $32,627 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Alabama A And M University came in at #11 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the city of Normal, Alabama A And M University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,024, while out-of-state students pay about $18,634. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $32,500 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $31,682. That is a strong return on a $32,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Jacksonville State University landed the #12 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Jacksonville State University is a large public school located in the suburb of Jacksonville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,894, while out-of-state students pay about $23,334. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $27,192. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Jacksonville State University earn a median of $33,879 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Jacksonville State University admits about 78% of applicants.
Columbia Southern University landed the #13 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Columbia Southern University is a very large private for-profit school located in the town of Orange Beach. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,224. Students borrow a median of $23,641 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Columbia Southern University generally make around $60,232. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of South Alabama came in at #14 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the city of Mobile, University Of South Alabama is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,116, while out-of-state students pay about $19,092. Students borrow a median of $29,026 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $36,216. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Alabama At Birmingham landed the #15 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. University Of Alabama At Birmingham is a very large public school located in the city of Birmingham. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,098, while out-of-state students pay about $22,562. Students borrow a median of $27,307 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from University Of Alabama At Birmingham generally make around $34,459. Set against $27,307 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Alabama At Birmingham admits about 88% of applicants.
Faulkner University landed the #16 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Located in the city of Montgomery, Faulkner University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,920. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $28,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Faulkner University generally make around $60,669. That is a strong return on a $28,250 median debt. Faulkner University admits about 73% of applicants.
Huntingdon College earned the #17 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the city of Montgomery, Huntingdon College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $29,070. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $28,252 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $33,649. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 70%.
More Criminal Justice & Corrections Rankings
View All Criminal Justice & Corrections Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 30 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
