by our College Data Analytics Team
[Corrections](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/corrections/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong corrections education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 12 schools to find the best return on investment for corrections students.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in corrections, balancing cost against outcomes.
Our analysis ranked North Central State College the best value for a degree in corrections in Ohio. Set in the rural area of Mansfield, North Central State College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,786 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,374. Typical student debt for corrections graduates is $10,782. Early-career corrections graduates make about $50,218. That is a strong return on a $10,782 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in corrections will find it at Cuyahoga Community College District, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,249, while out-of-state students pay about $7,249. Typical student debt for corrections graduates is $7,149. Corrections graduates of Cuyahoga Community College District earn a median of $38,595 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lorain County Community College earned it the #3 place for corrections. Set in the suburb of Elyria, Lorain County Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,265, with out-of-state students paying around $8,860. Corrections graduates carry a median of $17,611 in student loans. Corrections graduates of Lorain County Community College earn a median of $40,095 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Sinclair Community College earned it the #4 place for corrections. Sinclair Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Dayton. In-state tuition and fees average $3,675, with out-of-state students paying around $8,556. Students borrow a median of $11,054 to complete the corrections program here. Early-career corrections graduates make about $29,888. That is a strong return on a $11,054 median debt.
Stark State College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value corrections schools. Located in the suburb of North Canton, Stark State College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,790, while out-of-state students pay about $7,886. Typical student debt for corrections graduates is $16,350. Soon after graduation, corrections degree recipients from Stark State College generally make around $42,724. That is a strong return on a $16,350 median debt.
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Clark State Community College landed the #6 spot for corrections value this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Clark State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,393, with out-of-state students paying around $8,049. Typical student debt for corrections graduates is $15,522. Corrections graduates of Clark State Community College earn a median of $39,734 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,522 median debt.
Washington State Community College placed #7 among the best values for corrections. Washington State Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Marietta. Students from in state pay about $4,128 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,152. Corrections graduates carry a median of $16,291 in student loans. Soon after graduation, corrections degree recipients from Washington State Community College generally make around $45,305. That is a strong return on a $16,291 median debt.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus came in at #8 for value in corrections this year. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. In-state tuition and fees average $13,363, compared with $28,697 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for corrections graduates is $21,253. Early-career corrections graduates make about $49,712. Set against $21,253 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Tiffin University earned the #9 position for value in corrections this year. Located in the town of Tiffin, Tiffin University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,790. Students borrow a median of $30,758 to complete the corrections program here. Early-career corrections graduates make about $53,145. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Tiffin University admits about 80% of applicants.
Xavier University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value corrections schools. Xavier University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cincinnati. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $49,425. Typical student debt for corrections graduates is $26,396. Soon after graduation, corrections degree recipients from Xavier University generally make around $55,045. That is a strong return on a $26,396 median debt. Xavier University admits about 86% of applicants.
This list is compiled 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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.