2026 Best Value Criminology Schools in the Far Western Region
[Criminology](/majors/social-sciences/criminology/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 23 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for criminology students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Criminology Schools in the Far Western Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the criminology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Criminology Schools
For return on investment in criminology, no school beat California State University Fresno this year. Located in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,341, while out-of-state students pay about $19,941. Criminology graduates carry a median of $10,773 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from California State University Fresno generally make around $31,224. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in criminology will find it at California State University San Marcos, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of San Marcos, California State University San Marcos is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,082, while out-of-state students pay about $20,682. Criminology graduates carry a median of $14,810 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from California State University San Marcos generally make around $34,694. Set against $14,810 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Students looking for strong value in criminology will find it at California State Polytechnic University Pomona, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,781, with out-of-state students paying around $20,381. Students borrow a median of $17,226 to complete the criminology program here. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from California State Polytechnic University Pomona generally make around $49,427. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State Polytechnic University Pomona admits about 75% of applicants.
University Of California Irvine came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value criminology schools. Located in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,752, while out-of-state students pay about $46,640. Criminology graduates carry a median of $15,865 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from University Of California Irvine generally make around $47,792. Set against $15,865 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 29% of applicants are accepted.
San Jose State University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value criminology schools. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,410, with out-of-state students paying around $21,010. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $78,988. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Eastern Washington University came in at #6 for value in criminology this year. Eastern Washington University is a large public school located in the town of Cheney. Students from in state pay about $8,586 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $26,583. Students borrow a median of $19,295 to complete the criminology program here. Early-career criminology graduates make about $40,228. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Humboldt State University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value criminology schools. Set in the town of Arcata, Humboldt State University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,397, while out-of-state students pay about $20,997. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $16,849. Criminology graduates of Humboldt State University earn a median of $29,123 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,849 median debt. Humboldt State University admits about 98% of applicants.
Fresno Pacific University placed #8 among the best values for criminology. Fresno Pacific University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fresno. In-state tuition and fees average $36,660. Criminology graduates carry a median of $24,596 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Fresno Pacific University generally make around $60,890. Set against $24,596 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Fresno Pacific University admits about 64% of applicants.
Washington State University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value criminology schools. Set in the town of Pullman, Washington State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,391, while out-of-state students pay about $29,950. Criminology graduates carry a median of $21,903 in student loans. Criminology graduates of Washington State University earn a median of $54,697 early in their careers. Set against $21,903 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Washington State University admits about 87% of applicants.
San Diego State University landed the #10 spot for criminology value this year. San Diego State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. Students from in state pay about $8,728 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,328 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $16,417. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from San Diego State University generally make around $51,162. Set against $16,417 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 36%.
Pacific Lutheran University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value criminology schools. Pacific Lutheran University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Tacoma. Students from in state pay about $50,916 in tuition and fees. Criminology graduates carry a median of $23,667 in student loans. Criminology graduates of Pacific Lutheran University earn a median of $49,181 early in their careers. Set against $23,667 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Mount St Marys College came in at #12 for value in criminology this year. Mount St Marys College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. In-state tuition and fees average $49,564. Criminology graduates carry a median of $33,495 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Mount St Marys College generally make around $58,110. That is a strong return on a $33,495 median debt. Mount St Marys College admits about 73% of applicants.
California Lutheran University came in at #13 for value in criminology this year. Located in the city of Thousand Oaks, California Lutheran University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $52,560. Students borrow a median of $17,250 to complete the criminology program here. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from California Lutheran University generally make around $31,963. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
University Of La Verne came in at #14 for value in criminology this year. Located in the suburb of La Verne, University Of La Verne is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $49,470. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from University Of La Verne generally make around $34,292. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Gonzaga University came in at #15 for value in criminology this year. Located in the city of Spokane, Gonzaga University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $55,480 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $20,994 to complete the criminology program here. Criminology graduates of Gonzaga University earn a median of $38,028 early in their careers. Set against $20,994 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
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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 · 23 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
