2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools in the Southeast Region
[Criminal Justice & Police Science](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/criminal-justice-and-police-science/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong criminal justice & police science education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 154 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value criminal justice & police science schools.
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2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools in the Southeast Region
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
Our analysis ranked St Petersburg College the best value for a degree in criminal justice & police science in the Southeast Region. St Petersburg College is a very large public school located in the city of St. Petersburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,682, compared with $9,286 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $14,080 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $48,218. Set against $14,080 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes Wilkes Community College one of the best values for criminal justice & police science. Set in the town of Wilkesboro, Wilkes Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,572, while out-of-state students pay about $8,716. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Wilkes Community College earn a median of $41,251 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Seminole State College Of Florida is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & police science, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Sanford, Seminole State College Of Florida is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,122, with out-of-state students paying around $11,447. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $12,942 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $36,589. Set against $12,942 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Georgia Northwestern Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & police science, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Rome, Georgia Northwestern Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,300 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,868. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $8,492. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Georgia Northwestern Technical College earn a median of $41,229 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,492 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice & police science will find it at Central Carolina Community College, which ranked #5. Set in the town of Sanford, Central Carolina Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,711, compared with $8,855 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $10,266 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Central Carolina Community College generally make around $28,734. Set against $10,266 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Coastal Pines Technical College earned the #6 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Coastal Pines Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Waycross. In-state tuition and fees average $3,268, while out-of-state students pay about $5,836. Students borrow a median of $5,812 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $39,090. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Florida State College At Jacksonville landed the #7 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Located in the city of Jacksonville, Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,657, compared with $9,631 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $15,796 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Florida State College At Jacksonville generally make around $60,055. That is a strong return on a $15,796 median debt.
Chipola College earned the #8 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the town of Marianna, Chipola College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,120, compared with $8,950 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $8,847 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Chipola College earn a median of $38,366 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southern Regional Technical College came in at #9 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Southern Regional Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Thomasville. In-state tuition and fees average $3,007, with out-of-state students paying around $5,575. Students borrow a median of $9,086 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $44,007. Set against $9,086 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Durham Technical Community College came in at #10 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the city of Durham, Durham Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,240, compared with $7,531 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,750 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $49,893. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Gulf Coast State College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Gulf Coast State College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Panama City. In-state tuition and fees average $2,370, with out-of-state students paying around $8,635. Students borrow a median of $6,250 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Gulf Coast State College earn a median of $45,648 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Florida Gateway College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Located in the town of Lake City, Florida Gateway College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,100, compared with $11,747 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,500 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $44,048. Set against $7,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South Georgia Technical College landed the #13 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. South Georgia Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Americus. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,992, compared with $7,202 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $10,423 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $40,497. Set against $10,423 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cleveland Community College earned the #14 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the town of Shelby, Cleveland Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,602, compared with $8,746 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $7,131 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $44,116. That is a strong return on a $7,131 median debt.
North Florida Community College landed the #15 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Located in the rural area of Madison, North Florida Community College is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $2,994 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,460. Students borrow a median of $7,902 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $46,266. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northeast Alabama Community College landed the #16 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Set in the rural area of Rainsville, Northeast Alabama Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,040, with out-of-state students paying around $8,910. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $7,459. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Northeast Alabama Community College earn a median of $35,119 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
West Georgia Technical College landed the #17 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. West Georgia Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Waco. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,410, while out-of-state students pay about $5,978. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $12,651 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of West Georgia Technical College earn a median of $39,922 early in their careers. Set against $12,651 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Piedmont Community College landed the #18 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Located in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,792, compared with $8,936 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,861 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Central Piedmont Community College generally make around $44,616. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fayetteville Technical Community College placed #19 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public school located in the city of Fayetteville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,628, while out-of-state students pay about $8,772. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $16,909 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $40,584. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Wayne Community College earned the #20 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Wayne Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Goldsboro. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,566, compared with $8,710 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Wayne Community College earn a median of $40,557 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Walters State Community College earned the #21 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Walters State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Morristown. Students from in state pay about $4,752 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,736. Students borrow a median of $16,702 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Walters State Community College generally make around $44,624. That is a strong return on a $16,702 median debt.
Johnston Community College earned the #22 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the town of Smithfield, Johnston Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,756 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,900 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $9,490 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Johnston Community College generally make around $37,472. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hillsborough Community College landed the #23 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Set in the city of Tampa, Hillsborough Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,491, compared with $9,088 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,789 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $47,631. Set against $15,789 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Indian River State College came in at #24 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Indian River State College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fort Pierce. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,764, compared with $10,201 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $9,176. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Indian River State College earn a median of $51,825 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins placed #25 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Located in the city of Warner Robins, Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,448 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,016 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $11,693. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins earn a median of $39,765 early in their careers. Set against $11,693 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:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 154 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
