2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools in Tennessee
[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 7 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for criminal justice & police science students.
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2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools in Tennessee
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in criminal justice & police science, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools
Walters State Community College earned the #1 spot for value among criminal justice & police science schools in Tennessee. Set in the city of Morristown, Walters State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,752, while out-of-state students pay about $17,736. Students borrow a median of $16,702 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $44,624. That is a strong return on a $16,702 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Dyersburg State Community College earned it the #2 place for criminal justice & police science. Set in the town of Dyersburg, Dyersburg State Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,758, compared with $18,060 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $10,611 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Dyersburg State Community College earn a median of $41,177 early in their careers. Set against $10,611 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cleveland State Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,762, while out-of-state students pay about $17,746. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $6,318. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Cleveland State Community College generally make around $41,488. Set against $6,318 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Volunteer State Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & police science, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Gallatin, Volunteer State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,756, while out-of-state students pay about $17,740. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $12,462 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Volunteer State Community College generally make around $40,137. That is a strong return on a $12,462 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice & police science will find it at South College, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Knoxville, South College is a large private for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $18,535. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $24,533. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $24,095. That is a strong return on a $24,533 median debt.
Strayer University Tennessee earned the #6 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the city of Memphis, Strayer University Tennessee is a mid-sized private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,920. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $56,937 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Strayer University Tennessee earn a median of $59,916 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
