2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in Kansas
[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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 34 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for criminal justice & corrections students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in Kansas
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
Leading the list is Washburn University, our #1 best value for criminal justice & corrections in Kansas. Washburn University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Topeka. Students from in state pay about $9,945 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,949. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $20,822. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $40,052. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Central Christian College Of Kansas earned it the #2 place for criminal justice & corrections. Central Christian College Of Kansas is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of McPherson. In-state tuition and fees average $21,000. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $36,076. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Central Christian College Of Kansas earn a median of $55,453 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 53%.
A rank of #3 makes Fort Hays State University one of the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Fort Hays State University is a large public school located in the town of Hays. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,923, while out-of-state students pay about $17,741. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $28,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Fort Hays State University generally make around $42,428. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Wichita State University earned it the #4 place for criminal justice & corrections. Located in the city of Wichita, Wichita State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,684, while out-of-state students pay about $19,869. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Wichita State University generally make around $44,013. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Johnson County Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the city of Overland Park, Johnson County Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,424, compared with $5,688 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $20,106 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $55,171. Set against $20,106 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Emporia State University landed the #6 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Set in the town of Emporia, Emporia State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,106, compared with $15,419 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $23,480 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $35,970. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Emporia State University admits about 98% of applicants.
Butler Community College came in at #7 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the town of El Dorado, Butler Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,541, compared with $6,271 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,670 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Butler Community College generally make around $39,404. That is a strong return on a $16,670 median debt.
Pittsburg State University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the town of Pittsburg, Pittsburg State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,400, with out-of-state students paying around $19,744. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $24,843. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $50,003. Set against $24,843 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Sterling College Kansas placed #9 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Located in the rural area of Sterling, Sterling College Kansas is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $33,700. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $27,250. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Sterling College Kansas earn a median of $30,086 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,250 median debt. Roughly 48% of applicants are accepted.
Kansas Wesleyan University placed #10 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the town of Salina, Kansas Wesleyan University is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $34,630. Students borrow a median of $24,330 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Kansas Wesleyan University earn a median of $37,301 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Kansas Wesleyan University admits about 72% of applicants.
Friends University landed the #11 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Friends University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Wichita. Students from in state pay about $34,192 in tuition and fees. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $29,721 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $34,522. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Friends University admits about 55% of applicants.
Southwestern College landed the #12 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Set in the town of Winfield, Southwestern College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $39,822. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $26,874. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Southwestern College earn a median of $60,820 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Bethany College Kansas came in at #13 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the rural area of Lindsborg, Bethany College Kansas is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $33,000. Students borrow a median of $24,438 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Bethany College Kansas earn a median of $29,106 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
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. 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 · 34 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.
