2027 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in North Carolina
[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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 71 schools to find the best return on investment for criminal justice & corrections students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in North Carolina
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
Wilkes Community College earned the #1 spot for value among criminal justice & corrections schools in North Carolina. Wilkes Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Wilkesboro. Students from in state pay about $2,572 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,716. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Wilkes Community College generally make around $41,251. 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 Durham Technical Community College, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Durham, Durham Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,240, with out-of-state students paying around $7,531. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $17,750. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $49,893. Set against $17,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cleveland Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & corrections, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the town of Shelby, Cleveland Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,602 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,746. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $7,131 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Cleveland Community College earn a median of $44,116 early in their careers. Set against $7,131 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Wayne Community College earned it the #4 place for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the city of Goldsboro, Wayne Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,566, with out-of-state students paying around $8,710. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $5,500. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Wayne Community College earn a median of $40,557 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
Johnston Community College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the town of Smithfield, Johnston Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,756, with out-of-state students paying around $8,900. Students borrow a median of $9,490 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Johnston Community College earn a median of $37,472 early in their careers. Set against $9,490 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Edgecombe Community College came in at #6 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Edgecombe Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Tarboro. In-state tuition and fees average $2,640, compared with $8,784 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $22,153 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Edgecombe Community College generally make around $49,528. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Vance Granville Community College came in at #7 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. 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. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $14,833. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Vance Granville Community College earn a median of $39,750 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Piedmont Community College earned the #8 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Piedmont Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Roxboro. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,556, compared with $8,700 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $11,000. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $68,517. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Wilson Community College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the town of Wilson, Wilson Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,572, compared with $8,716 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $17,060. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Wilson Community College earn a median of $48,304 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,060 median debt.
Robeson Community College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the town of Lumberton, Robeson Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,604, with out-of-state students paying around $8,748. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $9,949. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $52,951. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
James Sprunt Community College earned the #11 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the rural area of Kenansville, James Sprunt Community College is a small public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,592, compared with $8,736 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,278 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of James Sprunt Community College earn a median of $35,264 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lenoir Community College landed the #12 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Located in the town of Kinston, Lenoir Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,578, with out-of-state students paying around $8,822. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $9,984 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Lenoir Community College earn a median of $38,736 early in their careers. Set against $9,984 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rockingham Community College placed #13 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the rural area of Wentworth, Rockingham Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,966, compared with $6,574 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $5,500. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Rockingham Community College earn a median of $50,048 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Craven Community College placed #14 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Located in the town of New Bern, Craven Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,022, while out-of-state students pay about $6,630. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $8,924. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Craven Community College generally make around $30,235. Set against $8,924 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Piedmont Community College landed the #15 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Located in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,792, while out-of-state students pay about $8,936. Students borrow a median of $11,861 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Central Piedmont Community College generally make around $44,616. Set against $11,861 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of The Albemarle landed the #16 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Located in the town of Elizabeth City, College Of The Albemarle is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,242, compared with $7,652 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $10,240 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $50,506. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Nash Community College came in at #17 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Nash Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Rocky Mount. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,866, while out-of-state students pay about $8,866. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $16,969. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Nash Community College generally make around $45,512. That is a strong return on a $16,969 median debt.
Sandhills Community College ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Sandhills Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Pinehurst. In-state tuition and fees average $2,040, while out-of-state students pay about $6,648. Students borrow a median of $9,238 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Sandhills Community College earn a median of $46,492 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fayetteville Technical Community College ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public school located in the city of Fayetteville. In-state tuition and fees average $2,628, compared with $8,772 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $16,909 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $40,584. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Stanly Community College earned the #20 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the town of Albemarle, Stanly Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,672, with out-of-state students paying around $8,816. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Stanly Community College generally make around $41,920.
Surry Community College placed #21 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Surry Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Dobson. In-state tuition and fees average $2,668, while out-of-state students pay about $8,812. Students borrow a median of $9,537 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $47,188. Set against $9,537 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southwestern Community College Sylva came in at #22 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the town of Sylva, Southwestern Community College Sylva is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,112, while out-of-state students pay about $13,184. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $13,708 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $36,418. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Richmond Community College came in at #23 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Richmond Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Hamlet. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,956, while out-of-state students pay about $6,564. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $8,407 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Richmond Community College earn a median of $46,757 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,407 median debt.
Central Carolina Community College came in at #24 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Central Carolina Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Sanford. In-state tuition and fees average $2,711, while out-of-state students pay about $8,855. Students borrow a median of $10,266 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Central Carolina Community College generally make around $28,734. That is a strong return on a $10,266 median debt.
Alamance Community College landed the #25 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Set in the suburb of Graham, Alamance Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,592, compared with $8,736 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,625 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Alamance Community College earn a median of $37,585 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in criminal justice & corrections:
More Criminal Justice & Corrections Rankings
View All Criminal Justice & Corrections Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 71 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 71 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.
