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2026 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in District of Columbia

[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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 3 schools to find the best return on investment for criminal justice students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in District of Columbia

2026 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in District of Columbia

If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the criminal justice degrees they offer, see the list below.

Best Value Criminal Justice Schools

1

Trinity Washington University
Washington, DC

$26,610 In-State Tuition & Fees

$33,564 Avg Student Debt

$53,804 Median Earnings (10yr)

Our analysis ranked Trinity Washington University the best value for a degree in criminal justice in District of Columbia. Located in the city of Washington, Trinity Washington University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $26,610. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $33,564 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Trinity Washington University generally make around $47,385. That is a strong return on a $33,564 median debt. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.

2

Strayer University Global Region
Washington, DC

$13,920 In-State Tuition & Fees

$56,937 Avg Student Debt

$40,092 Median Earnings (10yr)

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Strayer University Global Region earned it the #2 place for criminal justice. Set in the city of Washington, Strayer University Global Region is a large private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,920. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $56,937. Criminal Justice graduates of Strayer University Global Region earn a median of $43,405 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $56,937 median debt.

View All Criminal Justice Rankings >

Notes and References

The ranking above is published 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 · 3 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.