2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools in Arizona
[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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 18 schools to find the best return on investment for criminal justice & police science students.
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2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools in Arizona
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 Pima Community College the best value for a degree in criminal justice & police science in Arizona. Located in the city of Tucson, Pima Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,442, while out-of-state students pay about $7,758. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $7,562. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Pima Community College earn a median of $47,820 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,562 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes Yavapai College one of the best values for criminal justice & police science. Located in the city of Prescott, Yavapai College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,948 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,486 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $17,625 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Yavapai College earn a median of $59,511 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rio Salado College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & police science, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Tempe, Rio Salado College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,958. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $11,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Rio Salado College generally make around $51,384. That is a strong return on a $11,500 median debt.
Cochise College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & police science, landing the #4 spot this year. Cochise College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Sierra Vista. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,280, compared with $6,120 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $12,013. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Cochise College earn a median of $40,712 early in their careers. Set against $12,013 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Phoenix College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & police science, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Phoenix, Phoenix College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,358, compared with $8,959 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $15,204 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Phoenix College earn a median of $51,053 early in their careers. Set against $15,204 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Glendale Community College Glendale Az came in at #6 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Glendale Community College Glendale Az is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glendale. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,358, compared with $8,959 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,996 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $51,483. That is a strong return on a $15,996 median debt.
South Mountain Community College landed the #7 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Set in the city of Phoenix, South Mountain Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,358, compared with $8,958 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $39,825 ten years out.
Estrella Mountain Community College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Located in the suburb of Avondale, Estrella Mountain Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $21,752. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Estrella Mountain Community College generally make around $78,359. That is a strong return on a $21,752 median debt.
Chandler Gilbert Community College landed the #9 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Located in the city of Chandler, Chandler Gilbert Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,358, compared with $8,959 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $10,447. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $46,943. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mesa Community College came in at #10 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Mesa Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Mesa. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,358, while out-of-state students pay about $8,959. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $13,750. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Mesa Community College earn a median of $54,730 early in their careers. Set against $13,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Paradise Valley Community College came in at #11 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Paradise Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Phoenix. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $14,204. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Paradise Valley Community College generally make around $71,136. Set against $14,204 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Arizona State University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. Students from in state pay about $12,223 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $33,139. Students borrow a median of $22,000 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Arizona State University generally make around $55,876. Set against $22,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Arizona State University admits about 90% of applicants.
Scottsdale Community College placed #13 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Located in the rural area of Scottsdale, Scottsdale Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, while out-of-state students pay about $8,959. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $13,084 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $48,039. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Grand Canyon University earned the #14 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the city of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University is a very large private for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,508. Students borrow a median of $27,048 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $45,737. That is a strong return on a $27,048 median debt. The acceptance rate is 79%.
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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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
