by our College Data Analytics Team
[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.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the criminal justice studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in criminal justice studies, no school beat Copiah Lincoln Community College this year. Set in the rural area of Wesson, Copiah Lincoln Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,200 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,200 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $31,241.
A rank of #2 makes Delta State University one of the best values for criminal justice studies. Located in the town of Cleveland, Delta State University is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,605. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $25,896 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $41,580. That is a strong return on a $25,896 median debt. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
Alcorn State University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice studies schools. Located in the rural area of Alcorn State, Alcorn State University is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,785. Students borrow a median of $28,065 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Alcorn State University generally make around $30,617. That is a strong return on a $28,065 median debt. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Southern Mississippi came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice studies schools. Set in the city of Hattiesburg, University Of Southern Mississippi is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,998, with out-of-state students paying around $11,998. Students borrow a median of $21,125 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from University Of Southern Mississippi generally make around $36,315. Set against $21,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Jackson State University earned it the #5 place for criminal justice studies. Set in the city of Jackson, Jackson State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,965, while out-of-state students pay about $11,965. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Jackson State University generally make around $27,101. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Jackson State University admits about 93% of applicants.
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This ranking is produced 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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.