2027 Best Value Criminology Schools in the Southeast Region
[Criminology](/majors/social-sciences/criminology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong criminology education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 28 schools to find the best return on investment for criminology students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Criminology Schools in the Southeast 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
Our analysis ranked University Of Florida the best value for a degree in criminology in the Southeast Region. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,381, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the criminology program here. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $35,096. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Florida Online earned it the #2 place for criminology. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida Online is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,876, compared with $16,579 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the criminology program here. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from University Of Florida Online generally make around $35,096. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in criminology will find it at University Of South Florida Main Campus, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,410, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Criminology graduates carry a median of $20,302 in student loans. Early-career criminology graduates make about $37,108. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 43% of applicants are accepted.
Western Kentucky University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminology, landing the #4 spot this year. Western Kentucky University is a large public school located in the city of Bowling Green. Students from in state pay about $11,652 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $27,000. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Western Kentucky University generally make around $32,370. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Western Kentucky University admits about 94% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Old Dominion University one of the best values for criminology. Old Dominion University is a very large public school located in the city of Norfolk. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,750, with out-of-state students paying around $33,780. Criminology graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Criminology graduates of Old Dominion University earn a median of $37,255 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Arkansas State University Main Campus came in at #6 for value in criminology this year. Located in the city of Jonesboro, Arkansas State University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,090, while out-of-state students pay about $14,522. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $27,875. Criminology graduates of Arkansas State University Main Campus earn a median of $36,732 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,875 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Georgia Southern University landed the #7 spot for criminology value this year. Set in the town of Statesboro, Georgia Southern University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,022 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,734. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Georgia Southern University generally make around $35,588. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
University Of West Georgia came in at #8 for value in criminology this year. Set in the town of Carrollton, University Of West Georgia is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,088, compared with $17,800 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $28,500 to complete the criminology program here. Early-career criminology graduates make about $33,839. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 52% of applicants are accepted.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh earned the #9 position for value in criminology this year. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,799 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $32,847. Students borrow a median of $21,875 to complete the criminology program here. Criminology graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $35,076 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,875 median debt. North Carolina State University At Raleigh admits about 42% of applicants.
Mary Baldwin College landed the #10 spot for criminology value this year. Located in the city of Staunton, Mary Baldwin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $21,187 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $29,562 to complete the criminology program here. Early-career criminology graduates make about $60,386. Set against $29,562 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
West Virginia University landed the #11 spot for criminology value this year. West Virginia University is a very large public school located in the city of Morgantown. In-state tuition and fees average $10,104, with out-of-state students paying around $28,608. Students borrow a median of $23,772 to complete the criminology program here. Criminology graduates of West Virginia University earn a median of $51,750 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,772 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
East Carolina University landed the #12 spot for criminology value this year. Set in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,361, compared with $23,638 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,747 to complete the criminology program here. Criminology graduates of East Carolina University earn a median of $51,931 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,747 median debt. East Carolina University admits about 89% of applicants.
Lander University placed #13 among the best values for criminology. Set in the town of Greenwood, Lander University is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,700, compared with $21,300 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $26,064. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Lander University generally make around $37,548. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Central Arkansas landed the #14 spot for criminology value this year. University Of Central Arkansas is a large public school located in the city of Conway. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,523, with out-of-state students paying around $18,023. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $20,078. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from University Of Central Arkansas generally make around $38,453. That is a strong return on a $20,078 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Virginia Union University earned the #15 position for value in criminology this year. Set in the city of Richmond, Virginia Union University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $17,830 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $31,450. Early-career criminology graduates make about $30,291. Set against $31,450 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Mississippi State University landed the #16 spot for criminology value this year. Set in the town of Mississippi State, Mississippi State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,202, while out-of-state students pay about $27,637. Criminology graduates carry a median of $23,356 in student loans. Early-career criminology graduates make about $33,191. That is a strong return on a $23,356 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington came in at #17 for value in criminology this year. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public school located in the city of Wilmington. In-state tuition and fees average $7,277, compared with $24,152 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $22,915. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Wilmington generally make around $34,443. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington admits about 64% of applicants.
Clemson University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value criminology schools. Located in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,554, with out-of-state students paying around $40,866. Students borrow a median of $22,375 to complete the criminology program here. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Clemson University generally make around $38,057. That is a strong return on a $22,375 median debt. The acceptance rate is 38%.
Lynchburg College placed #19 among the best values for criminology. Located in the city of Lynchburg, Lynchburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $36,750. Early-career criminology graduates make about $107,159. The acceptance rate is 43%.
Coker College came in at #20 for value in criminology this year. Set in the town of Hartsville, Coker College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $33,416 in tuition and fees. Criminology graduates carry a median of $30,000 in student loans. Early-career criminology graduates make about $25,862. That is a strong return on a $30,000 median debt. Coker College admits about 94% of applicants.
The University Of Alabama ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value criminology schools. Set in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,180, compared with $34,172 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,496 to complete the criminology program here. Early-career criminology graduates make about $50,740. Set against $24,496 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Alabama admits about 77% of applicants.
Barry University landed the #22 spot for criminology value this year. Set in the suburb of Miami, Barry University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $34,350 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Barry University generally make around $44,015. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Barry University admits about 77% of applicants.
Loyola University New Orleans landed the #23 spot for criminology value this year. Located in the city of New Orleans, Loyola University New Orleans is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $49,440. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Loyola University New Orleans generally make around $35,578. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Loyola University New Orleans admits about 93% of applicants.
Mercer University came in at #24 for value in criminology this year. Located in the city of Macon, Mercer University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $31,565 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $32,463. Early-career criminology graduates make about $56,699. Set against $32,463 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Florida Southern College came in at #25 for value in criminology this year. Located in the city of Lakeland, Florida Southern College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $44,040. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the criminology program here. Early-career criminology graduates make about $39,713. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Florida Southern College admits about 64% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 28 Best Value Criminology Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s criminology value ranking:
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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 · 28 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 28 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.
