2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in Tennessee
[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 47 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools.
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2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in Tennessee
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 Walters State Community College, our #1 best value for criminal justice & corrections in Tennessee. Set in the city of Morristown, Walters State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,752 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,736. Students borrow a median of $16,702 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $44,624. That is a strong return on a $16,702 median debt.
Dyersburg State Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the town of Dyersburg, Dyersburg State Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,758, compared with $18,060 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $10,611. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Dyersburg State Community College generally make around $41,177. 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 Southwest Tennessee Community College, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Memphis, Southwest Tennessee Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,766, while out-of-state students pay about $17,750. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $11,406. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Southwest Tennessee Community College generally make around $43,592. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes Pellissippi State Community College one of the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Located in the suburb of Knoxville, Pellissippi State Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,786, compared with $17,770 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $8,951 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Pellissippi State Community College earn a median of $43,816 early in their careers. Set against $8,951 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice & corrections will find it at Cleveland State Community College, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,762, compared with $17,746 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $6,318. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $41,488. That is a strong return on a $6,318 median debt.
Northeast State Community College landed the #6 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Set in the rural area of Blountville, Northeast State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,782, with out-of-state students paying around $17,766. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $6,404. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Northeast State Community College generally make around $39,673. Set against $6,404 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Le Moyne Owen College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the city of Memphis, Le Moyne Owen College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $12,076 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $35,594 ten years after entry. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Tennessee Martin ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the town of Martin, The University Of Tennessee Martin is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,560, with out-of-state students paying around $16,600. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $22,671 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee Martin generally make around $32,167. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Tennessee State University placed #9 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Tennessee State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Nashville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,616, while out-of-state students pay about $22,416. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $28,001. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $32,555. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Middle Tennessee State University placed #10 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Located in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,266, while out-of-state students pay about $31,574. Students borrow a median of $24,093 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Middle Tennessee State University generally make around $37,952. Set against $24,093 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Middle Tennessee State University admits about 69% of applicants.
Volunteer State Community College placed #11 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Located in the suburb of Gallatin, Volunteer State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,756, with out-of-state students paying around $17,740. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $12,462 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $40,137. That is a strong return on a $12,462 median debt.
The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga earned the #12 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the city of Chattanooga, The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,448, compared with $18,512 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $22,995. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $37,403. That is a strong return on a $22,995 median debt. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga admits about 81% of applicants.
University Of Memphis ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,728, while out-of-state students pay about $15,384. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of University Of Memphis earn a median of $35,900 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Memphis admits about 72% of applicants.
Trevecca Nazarene University placed #14 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the city of Nashville, Trevecca Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $31,300 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,962 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Trevecca Nazarene University generally make around $52,004. Set against $24,962 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Trevecca Nazarene University admits about 69% of applicants.
Austin Peay State University placed #15 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the city of Clarksville, Austin Peay State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,006, while out-of-state students pay about $14,766. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $25,281 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Austin Peay State University generally make around $36,749. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Lane College placed #16 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Lane College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Jackson. Students from in state pay about $11,790 in tuition and fees. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $38,680 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Lane College earn a median of $35,917 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
East Tennessee State University placed #17 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. East Tennessee State University is a large public school located in the city of Johnson City. Students from in state pay about $10,216 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $13,726. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $25,942. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of East Tennessee State University earn a median of $30,097 early in their careers. Set against $25,942 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Bryan College Dayton landed the #18 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Set in the town of Dayton, Bryan College Dayton is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $19,800. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $25,652. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $44,067. That is a strong return on a $25,652 median debt.
South College landed the #19 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Located in the city of Knoxville, South College is a large private for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,535. Students borrow a median of $24,533 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $24,095. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cumberland University landed the #20 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Located in the town of Lebanon, Cumberland University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $27,840. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $21,902 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Cumberland University generally make around $45,223. Set against $21,902 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 67%.
Freed Hardeman University placed #21 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the town of Henderson, Freed Hardeman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $25,620. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $24,479 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $54,530. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Strayer University Tennessee came in at #22 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Strayer University Tennessee is a mid-sized private for-profit school located in the city of Memphis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,920. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $56,937. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Strayer University Tennessee earn a median of $43,405 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Bethel University Tennessee earned the #23 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Bethel University Tennessee is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of McKenzie. Students from in state pay about $18,712 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,444 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $54,442. That is a strong return on a $24,444 median debt. Bethel University Tennessee admits about 60% of applicants.
More Criminal Justice & Corrections Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 47 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.
