2026 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in Maine
[Criminal Justice Studies](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/criminal-justice-studies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong criminal justice studies education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 9 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for criminal justice studies students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in Maine
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the criminal justice studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools
For return on investment in criminal justice studies, no school beat Central Maine Community College this year. Located in the city of Auburn, Central Maine Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,140, compared with $7,020 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $43,112. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt.
Eastern Maine Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice studies schools. Located in the city of Bangor, Eastern Maine Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,156, while out-of-state students pay about $7,036. Students borrow a median of $17,741 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $52,263. Set against $17,741 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Maine At Presque Isle is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the rural area of Presque Isle, University Of Maine At Presque Isle is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,402, compared with $14,862 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $23,434. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of University Of Maine At Presque Isle earn a median of $41,148 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Maine At Augusta came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice studies schools. Located in the town of Augusta, University Of Maine At Augusta is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,888, while out-of-state students pay about $22,178. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $36,010. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $38,588. That is a strong return on a $36,010 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice studies will find it at Southern Maine Community College, which ranked #5. Set in the city of South Portland, Southern Maine Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,156 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,036 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $8,750 in student loans. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Southern Maine Community College earn a median of $44,869 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,750 median debt.
More Criminal Justice Studies Rankings
View All Criminal Justice Studies Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 9 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.
