2027 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in Alabama
[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 16 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in Alabama
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
For return on investment in criminal justice & corrections, no school beat George C Wallace State Community College Dothan this year. Located in the city of Dothan, George C Wallace State Community College Dothan is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,980, compared with $8,850 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,942 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from George C Wallace State Community College Dothan generally make around $34,762. Set against $9,942 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice & corrections will find it at Jefferson State Community College, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Birmingham, Jefferson State Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,100, compared with $8,970 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $15,083 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $42,861. That is a strong return on a $15,083 median debt.
A rank of #3 makes University Of North Alabama one of the best values for criminal justice & corrections. University Of North Alabama is a large public school located in the city of Florence. Students from in state pay about $12,120 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,320 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $24,125. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of University Of North Alabama earn a median of $31,595 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,125 median debt. University Of North Alabama admits about 87% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville one of the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the rural area of Hanceville, George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,220, compared with $9,090 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $13,146 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $35,238. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Auburn University At Montgomery is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & corrections, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Montgomery, Auburn University At Montgomery is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,700, with out-of-state students paying around $20,668. Students borrow a median of $25,635 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Auburn University At Montgomery earn a median of $38,710 early in their careers. Set against $25,635 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Auburn University At Montgomery admits about 92% of applicants.
Columbia Southern University came in at #6 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the town of Orange Beach, Columbia Southern University is a very large private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,224. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $23,641 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Columbia Southern University generally make around $60,232. Set against $23,641 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Jacksonville State University came in at #7 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Jacksonville State University is a large public school located in the suburb of Jacksonville. In-state tuition and fees average $12,894, compared with $23,334 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $27,192 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Jacksonville State University generally make around $33,879. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Miles College came in at #8 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the suburb of Fairfield, Miles College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,314. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $35,881 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $32,627. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Stillman College earned the #9 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Stillman College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Tuscaloosa. Students from in state pay about $12,126 in tuition and fees. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $35,421. Stillman College admits about 62% of applicants.
Troy University earned the #10 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the town of Troy, Troy University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,176, compared with $20,352 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $25,000. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $43,451. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Talladega College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the town of Talladega, Talladega College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $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. Set against $31,062 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Talladega College admits about 85% of applicants.
Alabama A And M University earned the #12 position 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. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,024, while out-of-state students pay about $18,634. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $32,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Alabama A And M University generally make around $31,682. Set against $32,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 58%.
University Of South Alabama landed the #13 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Located in the city of Mobile, University Of South Alabama is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,116 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $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. That is a strong return on a $29,026 median debt. University Of South Alabama admits about 71% of applicants.
University Of Alabama At Birmingham ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the city of Birmingham, University Of Alabama At Birmingham is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,098, compared with $22,562 for out-of-state students. 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Alabama State University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Alabama State University is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Montgomery. 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. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $32,898. Set against $32,261 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Faulkner University landed the #16 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Faulkner University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Montgomery. In-state tuition and fees average $23,920. Students borrow a median of $28,250 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $60,669. That is a strong return on a $28,250 median debt. Faulkner University admits about 73% of applicants.
More Criminal Justice & Corrections Rankings
View All Criminal Justice & Corrections Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.
