DEBUG: Raw major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Initial offers_url = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/criminal-justice-studies/offers.json", major_slug = ""
DEBUG: After cleaning major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Before URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/criminal-justice-studies/offers.json"
DEBUG: After TrimSuffix = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/criminal-justice-studies/offers.json"
DEBUG: After HTTPS placeholder = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/criminal-justice-studies/offers.json"
DEBUG: After slash cleaning = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/criminal-justice-studies/offers.json"
DEBUG: After URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/criminal-justice-studies/offers.json"
DEBUG: offers_url = https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/criminal-justice-studies/offers.json
DEBUG: major_slug = ""
DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: offers_data.offers found, count = 6
DEBUG: Specific major detected (cip4 = 43.01), keeping min_relevance at 0.8
DEBUG: Starting relevance filtering - min_relevance = 0.8, max_relevance = 1
DEBUG: Checking offer "Criminal Justice (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 1
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Criminal Justice (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" ACCEPTED (relevance 1)
DEBUG: Checking offer "BS in Criminal Justice - Criminology & Crime Analysis" with relevance 0.9
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "BS in Criminal Justice - Criminology & Crime Analysis" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.9)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Grad Cert - Law Enforcement (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Grad Cert - Law Enforcement (I Have a Bachelors)" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Criminal Justice & Law Bachelors Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.7
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Criminal Justice & Law Bachelors Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" REJECTED (relevance 0.7)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Criminology (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.6
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Criminology (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" REJECTED (relevance 0.6)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Grad Cert - Criminology (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.6
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Grad Cert - Criminology (I Have a Bachelors)" REJECTED (relevance 0.6)
DEBUG: relevant_offers count = 3
DEBUG: relevant_offers > 0, checking for ESYOH offers
DEBUG: ESYOH filtering - found 2 ESYOH offers with relevance >= 0.8
DEBUG: esyoh_offers count = 2
DEBUG: ESYOH offers found, rendering ESYOH widget
DEBUG: most_relevant_only = true, filtering for most relevant
DEBUG: Found 1 offers with relevance >= 1.0
2026 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in Virginia
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in criminal justice studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools
Our analysis ranked Northern Virginia Community College the best value for a degree in criminal justice studies in Virginia. Northern Virginia Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Annandale. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,891, compared with $12,410 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $25,999. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Northern Virginia Community College generally make around $40,126. That is a strong return on a $25,999 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice studies will find it at George Mason University, which ranked #2. George Mason University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fairfax. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,220, while out-of-state students pay about $38,688. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $20,761 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $49,815. That is a strong return on a $20,761 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Radford University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice studies schools. Located in the town of Radford, Radford University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,548, while out-of-state students pay about $25,633. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Radford University generally make around $35,935. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Virginia State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Petersburg, Virginia State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,043 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,650. Students borrow a median of $30,000 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Virginia State University earn a median of $34,604 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Ecpi University earned it the #5 place for criminal justice studies. Located in the city of Virginia Beach, Ecpi University is a large private for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,484. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $29,903 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $36,287. That is a strong return on a $29,903 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
ADBLOCK #101
Virginia Wesleyan College came in at #6 for value in criminal justice studies this year. Set in the city of Virginia Beach, Virginia Wesleyan College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,500. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $27,000. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $39,404. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Longwood University landed the #7 spot for criminal justice studies value this year. Longwood University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Farmville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,740, compared with $27,980 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $23,375. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $36,254. That is a strong return on a $23,375 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Ferrum College placed #8 among the best values for criminal justice studies. Located in the rural area of Ferrum, Ferrum College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $28,380. Students borrow a median of $29,500 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $42,080. Set against $29,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Bluefield College placed #9 among the best values for criminal justice studies. Bluefield College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Bluefield. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $26,770. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $24,250. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Bluefield College generally make around $41,005. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 59% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Virginia Main Campus landed the #10 spot for criminal justice studies value this year. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,118, with out-of-state students paying around $61,591. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $18,627. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of $69,126 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 17%.
[Criminal Justice Studies](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/criminal-justice-studies/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
