by our College Data Analytics Team
[Criminal Justice Studies](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/criminal-justice-studies/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. 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 studies students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in criminal justice studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
United Tribes Technical College earned the #1 spot for value among criminal justice studies schools in North Dakota. Set in the suburb of Bismarck, United Tribes Technical College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,232. Graduates go on to earn a median of $25,292 ten years after entry.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice studies will find it at Minot State University, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Minot, Minot State University is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,702 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,343 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Minot State University generally make around $45,579. Set against $26,343 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Minot State University admits about 65% of applicants.
North Dakota State University Main Campus came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice studies schools. North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the city of Fargo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,910, with out-of-state students paying around $15,564. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $23,125 in student loans. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of North Dakota State University Main Campus earn a median of $38,057 early in their careers. Set against $23,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. North Dakota State University Main Campus admits about 95% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Mary earned it the #4 place for criminal justice studies. Set in the rural area of Bismarck, University Of Mary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $22,356 in tuition and fees. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $26,983 in student loans. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of University Of Mary earn a median of $65,565 early in their careers. Set against $26,983 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Mary admits about 75% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice studies will find it at University Of North Dakota, which ranked #5. University Of North Dakota is a large public school located in the city of Grand Forks. Students from in state pay about $10,951 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,570 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $19,875 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $42,825. Set against $19,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
