2027 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in Arizona
[Criminal Justice & Corrections](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 22 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools.
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2027 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in Arizona
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in criminal justice & corrections, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools
Pima Community College earned the #1 spot for value among criminal justice & corrections schools in Arizona. Set in the city of Tucson, Pima Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,442, while out-of-state students pay about $7,758. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $7,562. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Pima Community College earn a median of $47,820 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rio Salado College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Rio Salado College is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. In-state tuition and fees average $2,358, compared with $8,958 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $11,500. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Rio Salado College earn a median of $51,384 early in their careers. Set against $11,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cochise College earned it the #3 place for criminal justice & corrections. Cochise College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Sierra Vista. In-state tuition and fees average $2,280, with out-of-state students paying around $6,120. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $12,013. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $40,712. Set against $12,013 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mohave Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & corrections, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the rural area of Kingman, Mohave Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,208, with out-of-state students paying around $7,968. Students borrow a median of $14,766 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $54,785. 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 Yavapai College, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Prescott, Yavapai College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,948, with out-of-state students paying around $9,486. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $17,625 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Yavapai College generally make around $59,511. That is a strong return on a $17,625 median debt.
Arizona Western College placed #6 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the city of Yuma, Arizona Western College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,060 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,870. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Arizona Western College generally make around $44,895.
Glendale Community College Glendale Az placed #7 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the suburb of Glendale, Glendale Community College Glendale Az is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,358, compared with $8,959 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $15,996 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Glendale Community College Glendale Az earn a median of $51,483 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Phoenix College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the city of Phoenix, Phoenix College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,358, compared with $8,959 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $15,204 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Phoenix College earn a median of $51,053 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mesa Community College came in at #9 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the city of Mesa, Mesa Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $13,750 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $54,730. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northland Pioneer College landed the #10 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Set in the rural area of Holbrook, Northland Pioneer College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,232 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,320. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $8,680. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Northland Pioneer College generally make around $44,117. That is a strong return on a $8,680 median debt.
Paradise Valley Community College came in at #11 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Paradise Valley Community College is a large public school located in the city of Phoenix. In-state tuition and fees average $2,358, compared with $8,959 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $14,204. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $71,136. That is a strong return on a $14,204 median debt.
Chandler Gilbert Community College landed the #12 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Chandler Gilbert Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Chandler. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, while out-of-state students pay about $8,959. Students borrow a median of $10,447 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Chandler Gilbert Community College earn a median of $46,943 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Estrella Mountain Community College earned the #13 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Estrella Mountain Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Avondale. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, compared with $8,959 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $21,752. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Estrella Mountain Community College generally make around $78,359. That is a strong return on a $21,752 median debt.
Scottsdale Community College earned the #14 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the rural area of Scottsdale, Scottsdale Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,358, compared with $8,959 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $13,084 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Scottsdale Community College earn a median of $48,039 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
South Mountain Community College earned the #15 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the city of Phoenix, South Mountain Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,358, while out-of-state students pay about $8,958. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $39,825.
University Of Phoenix Arizona landed the #16 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Set in the city of Phoenix, University Of Phoenix Arizona is a very large private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,552. Students borrow a median of $36,117 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of University Of Phoenix Arizona earn a median of $46,337 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $36,117 median debt.
Northern Arizona University earned the #17 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,619, while out-of-state students pay about $20,044. Students borrow a median of $21,645 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $47,056. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Arizona State University placed #18 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,223, while out-of-state students pay about $33,139. Students borrow a median of $22,000 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Arizona State University earn a median of $53,732 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Arizona State University admits about 90% of applicants.
American Intercontinental University Online landed the #19 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Set in the city of Chandler, American Intercontinental University Online is a very large private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,397. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $37,625 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $32,231. That is a strong return on a $37,625 median debt.
University Of Arizona came in at #20 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,573, with out-of-state students paying around $39,903. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $21,861. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of University Of Arizona earn a median of $50,834 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,861 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Grand Canyon University placed #21 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Grand Canyon University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Phoenix. Students from in state pay about $18,508 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $27,048. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $45,737. Set against $27,048 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Ashford University came in at #22 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the city of Chandler, Ashford University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,960. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $37,625. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Ashford University earn a median of $47,257 early in their careers. Set against $37,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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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 · 22 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 22 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.
