2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Master’s Degree Schools

1

Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice
New York, NY

Leading the list is Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice, our #1 best value for criminal justice & police science in the United States. 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, compared with $15,420 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $10,500. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice earn a median of $62,921 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.

2

Texas A And M International University
Laredo, TX

Texas A And M International University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Texas A And M International University is a large public school located in the city of Laredo. Students from in state pay about $7,894 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,454. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $15,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Texas A And M International University generally make around $46,596. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 44%.

3

Universidad Del Este
Carolina, PR

Universidad Del Este is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & police science, landing the #3 spot this year. Universidad Del Este is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Carolina. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,750. Students borrow a median of $12,620 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $22,186. That is a strong return on a $12,620 median debt.

4

Eastern Kentucky University
Richmond, KY

Students looking for strong value in criminal justice & police science will find it at Eastern Kentucky University, which ranked #4. Eastern Kentucky University is a large public school located in the town of Richmond. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,320, compared with $21,230 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $25,000. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $40,493. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.

5

Monroe College Main Campus
Bronx, NY

Monroe College Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & police science, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Bronx, Monroe College Main Campus is a large private for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,464. Students borrow a median of $20,975 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $58,544. Set against $20,975 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 68%.

6

Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL

Florida State University earned the #6 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. Students from in state pay about $6,517 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,683. Students borrow a median of $21,170 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $57,568. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Florida State University admits about 24% of applicants.

7

Weber State University
Ogden, UT

Weber State University placed #7 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Set in the city of Ogden, Weber State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,557, with out-of-state students paying around $17,545. Students borrow a median of $19,828 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Weber State University earn a median of $43,281 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,828 median debt.

8

Ferris State University
Big Rapids, MI

Ferris State University placed #8 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Located in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,778. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $21,880 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $51,699. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.

9

Fitchburg State University
Fitchburg, MA

Fitchburg State University came in at #9 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Fitchburg State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Fitchburg. Students from in state pay about $11,346 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,426. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Fitchburg State University generally make around $43,418. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Fitchburg State University admits about 87% of applicants.

10

Columbia Southern University
Orange Beach, AL

Columbia Southern University earned the #10 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Columbia Southern University is a very large private for-profit school located in the town of Orange Beach. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,224. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $23,641 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Columbia Southern University generally make around $61,993. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

11

Texas State University San Marcos
San Marcos, TX

Texas State University San Marcos placed #11 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public school located in the city of San Marcos. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,930 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $19,500. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Texas State University San Marcos earn a median of $47,760 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. Texas State University San Marcos admits about 89% of applicants.

12

University Of Arkansas At Little Rock
Little Rock, AR

University Of Arkansas At Little Rock landed the #12 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. University Of Arkansas At Little Rock is a large public school located in the city of Little Rock. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,911, while out-of-state students pay about $22,721. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $30,026. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $40,989. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 59%.

13

George Mason University
Fairfax, VA

George Mason University placed #13 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,220, compared with $38,688 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $20,761. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $56,018. That is a strong return on a $20,761 median debt. George Mason University admits about 88% of applicants.

14

University Of Baltimore
Baltimore, MD

University Of Baltimore placed #14 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Set in the city of Baltimore, University Of Baltimore is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,992, while out-of-state students pay about $23,984. Students borrow a median of $25,500 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of University Of Baltimore earn a median of $48,991 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,500 median debt. University Of Baltimore admits about 79% of applicants.

15

Pennsylvania Western University
California, PA

Pennsylvania Western University earned the #15 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Pennsylvania Western University is a large public school located in the town of California. Students from in state pay about $11,436 in tuition and fees, compared with $16,054 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $47,295 ten years after entry. The acceptance rate is 94%.

16

University Of Virginia Main Campus
Charlottesville, VA

University Of Virginia Main Campus ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,118, compared with $61,591 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $18,627 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $69,126. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 17%.

17

Grand Canyon University
Phoenix, AZ

Grand Canyon University came in at #17 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the city of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University is a very large private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,508. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $27,048. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Grand Canyon University generally make around $50,294. That is a strong return on a $27,048 median debt. The acceptance rate is 79%.

18

University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
Cincinnati, OH

University Of Cincinnati Main Campus landed the #18 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,363, while out-of-state students pay about $28,697. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $21,253 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $51,130. That is a strong return on a $21,253 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.

19

South Universitysavannah Online
Savannah, GA

South Universitysavannah Online earned the #19 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the city of Savannah, South Universitysavannah Online is a large private for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $17,895. Students borrow a median of $55,652 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from South Universitysavannah Online generally make around $41,898. Set against $55,652 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

20

Suffolk University
Boston, MA

Suffolk University placed #20 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Suffolk University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $47,550. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $26,670 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Suffolk University generally make around $50,806. That is a strong return on a $26,670 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.

21

University Of New Haven
West Haven, CT

University Of New Haven landed the #21 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Located in the suburb of West Haven, University Of New Haven is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $47,332. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of University Of New Haven earn a median of $49,615 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.

22

Keiser University Ft Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale, FL

Keiser University Ft Lauderdale earned the #22 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the city of Fort Lauderdale, Keiser University Ft Lauderdale is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $25,056. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $34,608 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Keiser University Ft Lauderdale earn a median of $39,520 early in their careers. Set against $34,608 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Keiser University Ft Lauderdale admits about 97% of applicants.

23

Roger Williams University
Bristol, RI

Roger Williams University landed the #23 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Set in the suburb of Bristol, Roger Williams University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,197. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $54,635. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.