2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools in California
[Criminal Justice & Police Science](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/criminal-justice-and-police-science/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 97 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for criminal justice & police science students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools in California
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the criminal justice & police science degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools
College Of San Mateo earned the #1 spot for value among criminal justice & police science schools in California. Located in the city of San Mateo, College Of San Mateo is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,332 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,428. Students borrow a median of $12,831 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $54,172 ten years after entry. Set against $12,831 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Moorpark College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Located in the suburb of Moorpark, Moorpark College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,426, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $17,075. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Moorpark College earn a median of $105,599 early in their careers. Set against $17,075 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cerritos College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & police science, landing the #3 spot this year. Cerritos College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Norwalk. In-state tuition and fees average $1,364, with out-of-state students paying around $12,004. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $11,306. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $29,495. Set against $11,306 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice & police science will find it at San Diego Miramar College, which ranked #4. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego Miramar College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,146 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,002. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $10,994 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of San Diego Miramar College earn a median of $41,038 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,994 median debt.
Skyline College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & police science, landing the #5 spot this year. Skyline College is a large public school located in the suburb of San Bruno. In-state tuition and fees average $1,332, while out-of-state students pay about $9,956. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $55,702.
College Of The Sequoias came in at #6 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the city of Visalia, College Of The Sequoias is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,394, compared with $9,038 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,288 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $28,851. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of The Canyons earned the #7 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,166, while out-of-state students pay about $10,958. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $9,776 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $51,913. Set against $9,776 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Fresno City College landed the #8 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Located in the city of Fresno, Fresno City College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,378, with out-of-state students paying around $8,638. Students borrow a median of $6,187 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $32,658. Set against $6,187 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Reedley College landed the #9 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Reedley College is a large public school located in the town of Reedley. In-state tuition and fees average $1,378, while out-of-state students pay about $8,638. Students borrow a median of $6,500 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $30,520. That is a strong return on a $6,500 median debt.
Moreno Valley College placed #10 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Set in the suburb of Moreno Valley, Moreno Valley College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,428 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,498. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $12,643 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Moreno Valley College earn a median of $81,339 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Grossmont College came in at #11 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Grossmont College is a large public school located in the suburb of El Cajon. Students from in state pay about $1,332 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,628 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $40,309.
West Valley College came in at #12 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the suburb of Saratoga, West Valley College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $0, compared with $9,320 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,308 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $25,378. Set against $14,308 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Irvine Valley College landed the #13 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Located in the city of Irvine, Irvine Valley College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,156 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,860 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $6,672. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $49,156. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Gavilan College earned the #14 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the rural area of Gilroy, Gavilan College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $1,508 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,249. Students borrow a median of $5,939 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Gavilan College earn a median of $28,496 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mt San Antonio College came in at #15 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,364 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,464. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $9,384. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $44,391. That is a strong return on a $9,384 median debt.
Imperial Valley College placed #16 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Set in the rural area of Imperial, Imperial Valley College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,126, with out-of-state students paying around $8,830. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $6,176. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $27,313. Set against $6,176 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ventura College came in at #17 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the city of Ventura, Ventura College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,426 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,615. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $20,250. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $99,778. That is a strong return on a $20,250 median debt.
Pasadena City College earned the #18 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the city of Pasadena, Pasadena City College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,180, while out-of-state students pay about $10,924. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $9,191 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Pasadena City College generally make around $38,841. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Golden West College came in at #19 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the suburb of Huntington Beach, Golden West College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,380 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,628. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $21,500. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $82,984. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt.
Yuba College earned the #20 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the suburb of Marysville, Yuba College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,128, while out-of-state students pay about $8,208. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $8,729 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Yuba College generally make around $62,350. Set against $8,729 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Norco College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Located in the suburb of Norco, Norco College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,428, compared with $12,498 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $8,203. Median earnings reach $51,206 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Victor Valley College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Victor Valley College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Victorville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,425, while out-of-state students pay about $10,125. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $7,995 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $37,755. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Taft College earned the #23 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the town of Taft, Taft College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,108, compared with $10,852 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $38,861.
Hartnell College landed the #24 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Located in the city of Salinas, Hartnell College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,404, while out-of-state students pay about $10,398. Students borrow a median of $6,000 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Hartnell College earn a median of $35,080 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,000 median debt.
Sacramento City College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Located in the city of Sacramento, Sacramento City College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,288, compared with $12,616 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $11,760. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $46,522. Set against $11,760 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s criminal justice & police science value ranking:
More Criminal Justice & Police Science Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 97 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
