by our College Data Analytics Team
[Criminal Justice](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/criminal-justice/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 117 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value criminal justice schools.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the criminal justice degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in criminal justice, no school beat College Of San Mateo this year. Set in the city of San Mateo, College Of San Mateo is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,332, with out-of-state students paying around $11,428. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $12,831. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $54,172. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Moorpark College one of the best values for criminal justice. Located in the suburb of Moorpark, Moorpark College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,426, while out-of-state students pay about $9,615. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $17,075. Criminal Justice graduates of Moorpark College earn a median of $105,599 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cerritos College earned it the #3 place for criminal justice. Located in the suburb of Norwalk, Cerritos College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,364, compared with $12,004 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $11,306 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $29,495. Set against $11,306 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #4 makes Skyline College one of the best values for criminal justice. Skyline College is a large public school located in the suburb of San Bruno. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,332, with out-of-state students paying around $9,956. Graduates go on to earn a median of $55,702 ten years after entry.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at San Diego Miramar College earned it the #5 place for criminal justice. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego Miramar College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,146, with out-of-state students paying around $10,002. Students borrow a median of $10,994 to complete the criminal justice program here. Criminal Justice graduates of San Diego Miramar College earn a median of $57,185 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,994 median debt.
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College Of The Canyons ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice schools. Located in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,166 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,958. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $9,776 in student loans. Criminal Justice graduates of College Of The Canyons earn a median of $51,913 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,776 median debt.
Fresno City College came in at #7 for value in criminal justice this year. Located in the city of Fresno, Fresno City College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,378 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,638. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $6,187. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Fresno City College generally make around $32,658. That is a strong return on a $6,187 median debt.
Grossmont College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice schools. Set in the suburb of El Cajon, Grossmont College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,332, compared with $10,628 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $40,309 ten years out.
Moreno Valley College earned the #9 position for value in criminal justice this year. Located in the suburb of Moreno Valley, Moreno Valley College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,428, compared with $12,498 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,643 to complete the criminal justice program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Moreno Valley College generally make around $81,339. That is a strong return on a $12,643 median debt.
Reedley College landed the #10 spot for criminal justice value this year. Located in the town of Reedley, Reedley College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,378 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,638. Students borrow a median of $6,500 to complete the criminal justice program here. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $30,520. That is a strong return on a $6,500 median debt.
College Of The Sequoias landed the #11 spot for criminal justice value this year. Set in the city of Visalia, College Of The Sequoias is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,394 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,038. Students borrow a median of $10,288 to complete the criminal justice program here. Criminal Justice graduates of College Of The Sequoias earn a median of $28,851 early in their careers. Set against $10,288 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
West Valley College landed the #12 spot for criminal justice value this year. West Valley College is a large public school located in the suburb of Saratoga. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $0, compared with $9,320 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $14,308. Criminal Justice graduates of West Valley College earn a median of $25,378 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Gavilan College placed #13 among the best values for criminal justice. Set in the rural area of Gilroy, Gavilan College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,508, while out-of-state students pay about $12,249. Students borrow a median of $5,939 to complete the criminal justice program here. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $28,496. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Irvine Valley College came in at #14 for value in criminal justice this year. Located in the city of Irvine, Irvine Valley College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,156, with out-of-state students paying around $11,860. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $6,672. Median earnings reach $49,156 ten years out. Set against $6,672 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mt San Antonio College earned the #15 position for value in criminal justice this year. Mt San Antonio College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Walnut. Students from in state pay about $1,364 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,464. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $9,384 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $33,692. That is a strong return on a $9,384 median debt.
Imperial Valley College landed the #16 spot for criminal justice value this year. Located in the rural area of Imperial, Imperial Valley College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,126, compared with $8,830 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,176 to complete the criminal justice program here. Criminal Justice graduates of Imperial Valley College earn a median of $27,313 early in their careers. Set against $6,176 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pasadena City College earned the #17 position for value in criminal justice this year. Pasadena City College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,180, while out-of-state students pay about $10,924. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $9,191 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Pasadena City College generally make around $28,492. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ventura College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice schools. Located in the city of Ventura, Ventura College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,426, while out-of-state students pay about $9,615. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $20,250 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $99,778. That is a strong return on a $20,250 median debt.
Golden West College earned the #19 position for value in criminal justice this year. Located in the suburb of Huntington Beach, Golden West College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,380, compared with $11,628 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the criminal justice program here. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $82,984. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt.
Yuba College landed the #20 spot for criminal justice value this year. Yuba College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Marysville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,128, while out-of-state students pay about $8,208. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $8,729. Criminal Justice graduates of Yuba College earn a median of $62,350 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Victor Valley College earned the #21 position for value in criminal justice this year. Victor Valley College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Victorville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,425, while out-of-state students pay about $10,125. Students borrow a median of $7,995 to complete the criminal justice program here. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $31,600. That is a strong return on a $7,995 median debt.
Norco College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice schools. Norco College is a large public school located in the suburb of Norco. In-state tuition and fees average $1,428, compared with $12,498 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $8,203 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $51,206 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hartnell College came in at #23 for value in criminal justice this year. Located in the city of Salinas, Hartnell College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,404, compared with $10,398 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,000 to complete the criminal justice program here. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $34,648. That is a strong return on a $6,000 median debt.
Taft College placed #24 among the best values for criminal justice. Set in the town of Taft, Taft College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,108, with out-of-state students paying around $10,852. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $38,861.
Sacramento City College earned the #25 position for value in criminal justice this year. Located in the city of Sacramento, Sacramento City College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,288, with out-of-state students paying around $12,616. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $11,760 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $31,146. Set against $11,760 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in criminal justice:
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This list is compiled 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 · 117 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 24 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.