2027 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in Arkansas
[Criminal Justice & Corrections](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong criminal justice & corrections education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 16 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for criminal justice & corrections students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in Arkansas
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
Black River Technical College tops our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools in Arkansas. Black River Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Pocahontas. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,776, compared with $7,488 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,100 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Black River Technical College earn a median of $40,468 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,100 median debt.
Phillips Community College Of The University Of Arkansas is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & corrections, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the town of Helena, Phillips Community College Of The University Of Arkansas is a small public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,380, while out-of-state students pay about $4,550. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $45,190. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice & corrections will find it at Northwest Arkansas Community College, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Bentonville, Northwest Arkansas Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,342, compared with $5,238 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $12,479 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $40,671. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes Arkansas Northeastern College one of the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the town of Blytheville, Arkansas Northeastern College is a small public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,570, with out-of-state students paying around $4,250. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $7,944 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Arkansas Northeastern College earn a median of $47,773 early in their careers. Set against $7,944 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
East Arkansas Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & corrections, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the town of Forrest City, East Arkansas Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,300, while out-of-state students pay about $4,380. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $8,110. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $42,134. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
South Arkansas Community College placed #6 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the town of El Dorado, South Arkansas Community College is a small public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,324, while out-of-state students pay about $5,532. Students borrow a median of $15,386 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of South Arkansas Community College earn a median of $59,370 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Arkansas State University Newport placed #7 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Located in the rural area of Newport, Arkansas State University Newport is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,312, compared with $4,752 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $10,925. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Arkansas State University Newport earn a median of $44,500 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southern Arkansas University Tech ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the rural area of Camden, Southern Arkansas University Tech is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $5,040 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,480. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $8,488. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Southern Arkansas University Tech generally make around $34,302. Set against $8,488 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Arkansas State University Mountain Home landed the #9 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Set in the town of Mountain Home, Arkansas State University Mountain Home is a small public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,312, while out-of-state students pay about $4,776. Students borrow a median of $18,097 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Arkansas State University Mountain Home earn a median of $39,011 early in their careers. Set against $18,097 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Arkansas Fort Smith landed the #10 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Set in the city of Fort Smith, University Of Arkansas Fort Smith is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,334, while out-of-state students pay about $12,182. Students borrow a median of $18,750 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $33,460. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Arkansas Fort Smith admits about 80% of applicants.
Arkansas Tech University came in at #11 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Arkansas Tech University is a large public school located in the town of Russellville. In-state tuition and fees average $8,674, while out-of-state students pay about $14,668. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $25,785. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $35,642. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Arkansas Tech University admits about 96% of applicants.
University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff earned the #12 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Pine Bluff. In-state tuition and fees average $9,375, while out-of-state students pay about $17,955. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff generally make around $35,532. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 41%.
National Park Community College came in at #13 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the suburb of Hot Springs, National Park Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,600, with out-of-state students paying around $7,280. Students borrow a median of $14,162 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from National Park Community College generally make around $34,904. Set against $14,162 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus came in at #14 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the town of Magnolia, Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,960, with out-of-state students paying around $15,690. Students borrow a median of $22,349 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Southern Arkansas University Main Campus earn a median of $28,541 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,349 median debt. The acceptance rate is 75%.
University Of Arkansas At Little Rock earned the #15 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. University Of Arkansas At Little Rock is a large public school located in the city of Little Rock. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,911, compared with $22,721 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $30,026 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $40,989. Set against $30,026 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 59% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Arkansas ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. University Of Arkansas is a very large public school located in the city of Fayetteville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,104, compared with $29,966 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $25,385. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $38,083. That is a strong return on a $25,385 median debt. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
More Criminal Justice & Corrections Rankings
View All Criminal Justice & Corrections Rankings >
Notes and References
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 · 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.
