2027 Best Value Criminology Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
[Criminology](/majors/social-sciences/criminology/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 32 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for criminology students.
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2027 Best Value Criminology Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in criminology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Criminology Schools
For return on investment in criminology, no school beat Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice this year. Located in the city of New York, Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,470, with out-of-state students paying around $15,420. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $11,000. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice generally make around $33,798. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Maryland College Park is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminology, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,809, while out-of-state students pay about $41,186. Criminology graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Criminology graduates of University Of Maryland College Park earn a median of $43,698 early in their careers. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Maryland College Park admits about 45% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Suny College At Old Westbury one of the best values for criminology. Set in the suburb of Old Westbury, Suny College At Old Westbury is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,372 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,842. Students borrow a median of $17,800 to complete the criminology program here. Criminology graduates of Suny College At Old Westbury earn a median of $38,764 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,800 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in criminology will find it at University Of Delaware, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Newark, University Of Delaware is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $16,810 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $41,400. Criminology graduates carry a median of $23,685 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from University Of Delaware generally make around $35,968. That is a strong return on a $23,685 median debt. University Of Delaware admits about 71% of applicants.
Westmoreland County Community College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value criminology schools. Set in the suburb of Youngwood, Westmoreland County Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,306, with out-of-state students paying around $14,728. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the criminology program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $37,439. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt.
Suny College Of Technology At Canton landed the #6 spot for criminology value this year. Located in the town of Canton, Suny College Of Technology At Canton is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,742, compared with $15,769 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $23,640. Criminology graduates of Suny College Of Technology At Canton earn a median of $46,515 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,640 median debt. Suny College Of Technology At Canton admits about 92% of applicants.
Niagara University placed #7 among the best values for criminology. Set in the suburb of Niagara University, Niagara University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,345. Criminology graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Niagara University generally make around $36,781. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus earned the #8 position for value in criminology this year. Set in the town of Indiana, Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,380, while out-of-state students pay about $16,297. Criminology graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus generally make around $41,866. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Delaware State University placed #9 among the best values for criminology. Delaware State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Dover. Students from in state pay about $10,670 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,634. Students borrow a median of $26,750 to complete the criminology program here. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Delaware State University generally make around $30,710. Set against $26,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Delaware State University admits about 47% of applicants.
Lycoming College came in at #10 for value in criminology this year. Located in the city of Williamsport, Lycoming College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $49,804 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $27,000. Criminology graduates of Lycoming College earn a median of $40,646 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania landed the #11 spot for criminology value this year. Located in the town of Slippery Rock, Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,568, compared with $14,676 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $25,990. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $36,276. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
University At Buffalo came in at #12 for value in criminology this year. University At Buffalo is a very large public school located in the suburb of Buffalo. Students from in state pay about $10,936 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $31,536. Criminology graduates carry a median of $22,232 in student loans. Criminology graduates of University At Buffalo earn a median of $52,403 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Cedar Crest College landed the #13 spot for criminology value this year. Set in the city of Allentown, Cedar Crest College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $46,314. Criminology graduates carry a median of $30,759 in student loans. Early-career criminology graduates make about $67,662. Set against $30,759 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Albright College earned the #14 position for value in criminology this year. Set in the city of Reading, Albright College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $29,082. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $28,958. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Albright College generally make around $38,075. Set against $28,958 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Le Moyne College came in at #15 for value in criminology this year. Le Moyne College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Syracuse. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,330. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the criminology program here. Criminology graduates of Le Moyne College earn a median of $57,229 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Suny College At Cortland earned the #16 position for value in criminology this year. Located in the town of Cortland, Suny College At Cortland is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,874, compared with $18,784 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the criminology program here. Criminology graduates of Suny College At Cortland earn a median of $34,768 early in their careers. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Suny College At Cortland admits about 60% of applicants.
Mount St Marys University ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value criminology schools. Set in the rural area of Emmitsburg, Mount St Marys University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $48,630 in tuition and fees. Criminology graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career criminology graduates make about $43,230. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham earned the #18 position for value in criminology this year. Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Madison. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,468. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham generally make around $37,619. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Mount Saint Mary College ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value criminology schools. Mount Saint Mary College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Newburgh. Students from in state pay about $43,450 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,500 to complete the criminology program here. Criminology graduates of Mount Saint Mary College earn a median of $65,715 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,500 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Vincent College came in at #20 for value in criminology this year. Saint Vincent College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Latrobe. Students from in state pay about $42,396 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the criminology program here. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Saint Vincent College generally make around $40,088. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Saint Vincent College admits about 62% of applicants.
Saint Bonaventure University placed #21 among the best values for criminology. Saint Bonaventure University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Saint Bonaventure. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,735. Students borrow a median of $25,917 to complete the criminology program here. Early-career criminology graduates make about $43,190. Set against $25,917 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Saint Bonaventure University admits about 82% of applicants.
University Of Pennsylvania placed #22 among the best values for criminology. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,686. Students borrow a median of $16,155 to complete the criminology program here. Early-career criminology graduates make about $99,682. Set against $16,155 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
Wilkes University placed #23 among the best values for criminology. Wilkes University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Wilkes-Barre. Students from in state pay about $43,496 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $26,601. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Wilkes University generally make around $64,004. Set against $26,601 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Wilkes University admits about 91% of applicants.
Bloomfield College placed #24 among the best values for criminology. Located in the suburb of Bloomfield, Bloomfield College is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $15,912 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $26,022. Criminology graduates carry a median of $24,207 in student loans. Criminology graduates of Bloomfield College earn a median of $44,730 early in their careers. Set against $24,207 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Saint John Fisher College ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value criminology schools. Set in the suburb of Rochester, Saint John Fisher College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,190. Criminology graduates carry a median of $24,750 in student loans. Early-career criminology graduates make about $33,623. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Saint John Fisher College admits about 66% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 32 Best Value Criminology Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in criminology:
Narrow Criminology Schools by State
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 32 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 32 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.
