2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in Kentucky
[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 31 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 Kentucky
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
Big Sandy Community And Technical College tops our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools in Kentucky. Located in the town of Prestonsburg, Big Sandy Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $10,994 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $29,432. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Somerset Community College earned it the #2 place for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the town of Somerset, Somerset Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $14,387. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Somerset Community College earn a median of $34,245 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,387 median debt.
Hopkinsville Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the town of Hopkinsville, Hopkinsville Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Students borrow a median of $13,269 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Hopkinsville Community College generally make around $43,678. Set against $13,269 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice & corrections will find it at West Kentucky Community And Technical College, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Paducah, West Kentucky Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $10,778. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $31,903. That is a strong return on a $10,778 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Maysville Community And Technical College earned it the #5 place for criminal justice & corrections. Maysville Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Maysville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $13,031. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $37,769. Set against $13,031 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Bluegrass Community And Technical College came in at #6 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the city of Lexington, Bluegrass Community And Technical College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,808, compared with $6,512 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $10,814. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Bluegrass Community And Technical College generally make around $44,752. That is a strong return on a $10,814 median debt.
Elizabethtown Community And Technical College placed #7 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Elizabethtown Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Elizabethtown. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $12,245. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Elizabethtown Community And Technical College earn a median of $45,486 early in their careers. Set against $12,245 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Madisonville Community College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Madisonville Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Madisonville. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,985 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Madisonville Community College generally make around $41,084. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Jefferson Community And Technical College landed the #9 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Jefferson Community And Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Louisville. In-state tuition and fees average $4,808, with out-of-state students paying around $6,512. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $11,516 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Jefferson Community And Technical College generally make around $33,316. That is a strong return on a $11,516 median debt.
Northern Kentucky University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the suburb of Highland Heights, Northern Kentucky University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,088, compared with $21,912 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $35,724. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northern Kentucky University admits about 68% of applicants.
Murray State University placed #11 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Located in the town of Murray, Murray State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,900, with out-of-state students paying around $19,836. Students borrow a median of $22,875 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $32,041. That is a strong return on a $22,875 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Eastern Kentucky University earned the #12 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the town of Richmond, Eastern Kentucky University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,320 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,230. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Eastern Kentucky University earn a median of $36,021 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Eastern Kentucky University admits about 78% of applicants.
Kentucky State University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the town of Frankfort, Kentucky State University is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $9,387 in tuition and fees, compared with $13,578 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $28,162 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Kentucky State University earn a median of $33,099 early in their careers. Set against $28,162 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Kentucky State University admits about 96% of applicants.
University Of The Cumberlands ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the town of Williamsburg, University Of The Cumberlands is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,875. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $43,972. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Pikeville College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the town of Pikeville, Pikeville College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $24,850. Students borrow a median of $22,330 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Pikeville College earn a median of $27,025 early in their careers. Set against $22,330 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Louisville came in at #16 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. University Of Louisville is a very large public school located in the city of Louisville. Students from in state pay about $13,136 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $29,482. Students borrow a median of $18,258 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from University Of Louisville generally make around $74,173. Set against $18,258 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Lindsey Wilson College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Lindsey Wilson College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Columbia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,808. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $29,512. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Alice Lloyd College placed #18 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the rural area of Pippa Passes, Alice Lloyd College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,960. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $40,573. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Campbellsville University landed the #19 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Located in the town of Campbellsville, Campbellsville University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $27,998 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $21,550. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $36,849. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Thomas More College earned the #20 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the suburb of Crestview Hills, Thomas More College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,025. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $31,608 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $35,115. That is a strong return on a $31,608 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Bellarmine University earned the #21 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the city of Louisville, Bellarmine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $48,770. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $25,990. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $30,930. Set against $25,990 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Midway College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the rural area of Midway, Midway College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $19,110. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $26,723. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $42,586. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Sullivan University came in at #23 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the city of Louisville, Sullivan University is a mid-sized private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,480. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $34,249 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Sullivan University earn a median of $54,104 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $34,249 median debt.
More Criminal Justice & Corrections Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 31 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
