by our College Data Analytics Team
[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 schools below stand out for delivering a strong criminal justice & corrections education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 30 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for criminal justice & corrections students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in criminal justice & corrections, balancing cost against outcomes.
Riverland Community College earned the #1 spot for value among criminal justice & corrections schools in Minnesota. Set in the town of Austin, Riverland Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,297. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $15,732. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $49,194. Set against $15,732 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice & corrections will find it at Ridgewater College, which ranked #2. Ridgewater College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Willmar. Students from in state pay about $6,121 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $15,556 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $49,040. 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 Hennepin Technical College, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park, Hennepin Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,940 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $19,854. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $56,699. Set against $19,854 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the town of Hibbing, Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $6,022 in tuition and fees. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $25,125 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $56,757. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Century College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the suburb of White Bear Lake, Century College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,214. Students borrow a median of $19,366 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $54,174. That is a strong return on a $19,366 median debt.
Saint Marys University Of Minnesota earned the #6 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the town of Winona, Saint Marys University Of Minnesota is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $45,080. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $28,708. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $64,894. That is a strong return on a $28,708 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Minnesota West Community And Technical College came in at #7 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Minnesota West Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Granite Falls. In-state tuition and fees average $6,491. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $13,946 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Minnesota West Community And Technical College generally make around $43,009. Set against $13,946 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Inver Hills Community College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Inver Hills Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Inver Grove Heights. In-state tuition and fees average $6,146. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $23,690. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Inver Hills Community College generally make around $52,724. Set against $23,690 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
North Hennepin Community College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the suburb of Brooklyn Park, North Hennepin Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,061. Students borrow a median of $30,250 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $53,797. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Normandale Community College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the city of Bloomington, Normandale Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,329. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $12,891 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Normandale Community College earn a median of $53,871 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,891 median debt.
Minnesota State Community And Technical College placed #11 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Located in the rural area of Fergus Falls, Minnesota State Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,908. Students borrow a median of $18,197 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Minnesota State Community And Technical College generally make around $42,972. Set against $18,197 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Minnesota Crookston placed #12 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the town of Crookston, University Of Minnesota Crookston is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,288. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $26,661. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $33,062. Set against $26,661 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Cloud State University came in at #13 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Saint Cloud State University is a large public school located in the city of Saint Cloud. Students from in state pay about $10,245 in tuition and fees. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Saint Cloud State University generally make around $49,412. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Fond Du Lac Tribal And Community College came in at #14 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the town of Cloquet, Fond Du Lac Tribal And Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,006. Students borrow a median of $15,665 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Fond Du Lac Tribal And Community College generally make around $51,144. That is a strong return on a $15,665 median debt.
Alexandria Technical And Community College came in at #15 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the town of Alexandria, Alexandria Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,236. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $15,400. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $50,433. Set against $15,400 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northland Community And Technical College placed #16 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the town of Thief River Falls, Northland Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,289. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $12,138. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Northland Community And Technical College generally make around $47,216. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Minneapolis Community And Technical College placed #17 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Minneapolis Community And Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,161. Students borrow a median of $30,000 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $50,959. Set against $30,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Bemidji State University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Bemidji State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Bemidji. Students from in state pay about $10,237 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,181 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Bemidji State University earn a median of $49,617 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,181 median debt. Bemidji State University admits about 56% of applicants.
Central Lakes College Brainerd came in at #19 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the town of Brainerd, Central Lakes College Brainerd is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,249. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $14,479 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Central Lakes College Brainerd generally make around $44,264. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rochester Community And Technical College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the city of Rochester, Rochester Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,389. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $14,470 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Rochester Community And Technical College earn a median of $50,418 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southwest Minnesota State University earned the #21 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the town of Marshall, Southwest Minnesota State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,361 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $27,000. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $47,898. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 62%.
Metropolitan State University ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Metropolitan State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,840. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $31,213. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Metropolitan State University earn a median of $52,125 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Winona State University ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Winona State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Winona. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,576, compared with $17,308 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $26,012 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Winona State University earn a median of $48,861 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,012 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Minnesota State College Southeast Technical ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the town of Winona, Minnesota State College Southeast Technical is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,432. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $22,522 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Minnesota State College Southeast Technical generally make around $50,290. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rasmussen College Minnesota placed #25 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Located in the city of St. Cloud, Rasmussen College Minnesota is a large private for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,199. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $30,710 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Rasmussen College Minnesota earn a median of $51,300 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $30,710 median debt.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s criminal justice & corrections value ranking:
The ranking above is published 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 · 30 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 30 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.