2026 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Southeast Region
[Criminal Justice](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/criminal-justice/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong criminal justice education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 219 schools to find the best return on investment for criminal justice students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in criminal justice, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Criminal Justice Schools
Leading the list is St Petersburg College, our #1 best value for criminal justice in the Southeast Region. Set in the city of St. Petersburg, St Petersburg College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,682, while out-of-state students pay about $9,286. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $14,080. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from St Petersburg College generally make around $48,218. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Seminole State College Of Florida is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Sanford, Seminole State College Of Florida is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,122 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,447. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $12,942. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $36,589. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Florida State College At Jacksonville came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice schools. Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public school located in the city of Jacksonville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,657, with out-of-state students paying around $9,631. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $15,796 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $60,055. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes Florida Gateway College one of the best values for criminal justice. Set in the town of Lake City, Florida Gateway College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,100, with out-of-state students paying around $11,747. Students borrow a median of $7,500 to complete the criminal justice program here. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $44,048. That is a strong return on a $7,500 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice will find it at Gulf Coast State College, which ranked #5. Gulf Coast State College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Panama City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,370, with out-of-state students paying around $8,635. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $6,250 in student loans. Criminal Justice graduates of Gulf Coast State College earn a median of $45,648 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Atlanta Technical College earned the #6 position for value in criminal justice this year. Atlanta Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Atlanta. In-state tuition and fees average $3,382, compared with $5,950 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $17,655 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Atlanta Technical College generally make around $35,441. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Chipola College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice schools. Located in the town of Marianna, Chipola College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,120, with out-of-state students paying around $8,950. Students borrow a median of $8,847 to complete the criminal justice program here. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $43,599. That is a strong return on a $8,847 median debt.
Indian River State College placed #8 among the best values for criminal justice. Indian River State College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fort Pierce. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,764, with out-of-state students paying around $10,201. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $9,176 in student loans. Criminal Justice graduates of Indian River State College earn a median of $51,825 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,176 median debt.
Hillsborough Community College earned the #9 position for value in criminal justice this year. Hillsborough Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,491, while out-of-state students pay about $9,088. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $15,789 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $47,631. Set against $15,789 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
North Florida Community College landed the #10 spot for criminal justice value this year. Located in the rural area of Madison, North Florida Community College is a small public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,994, while out-of-state students pay about $11,460. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $7,902. Criminal Justice graduates of North Florida Community College earn a median of $46,266 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,902 median debt.
South Florida State College came in at #11 for value in criminal justice this year. Set in the suburb of Avon Park, South Florida State College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,165, while out-of-state students pay about $11,859. Students borrow a median of $8,204 to complete the criminal justice program here. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $42,415. Set against $8,204 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Itawamba Community College came in at #12 for value in criminal justice this year. Set in the rural area of Fulton, Itawamba Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,420, compared with $5,820 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $10,942. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Itawamba Community College generally make around $32,996. That is a strong return on a $10,942 median debt.
Dalton State College placed #13 among the best values for criminal justice. Set in the city of Dalton, Dalton State College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,336, with out-of-state students paying around $10,656. Students borrow a median of $10,550 to complete the criminal justice program here. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $37,856. Set against $10,550 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Copiah Lincoln Community College came in at #14 for value in criminal justice this year. Copiah Lincoln Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Wesson. In-state tuition and fees average $4,200, compared with $5,200 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $31,241 ten years out.
Wytheville Community College landed the #15 spot for criminal justice value this year. Located in the town of Wytheville, Wytheville Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,007, with out-of-state students paying around $11,445. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $9,542 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Wytheville Community College generally make around $38,907. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice schools. Located in the suburb of Richmond, J Sargeant Reynolds Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,280, with out-of-state students paying around $11,718. Students borrow a median of $16,131 to complete the criminal justice program here. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $36,965. That is a strong return on a $16,131 median debt.
Northwest Florida State College earned the #17 position for value in criminal justice this year. Set in the suburb of Niceville, Northwest Florida State College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,583, with out-of-state students paying around $10,612. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $11,808 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $48,463. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Patrick Henry Community College came in at #18 for value in criminal justice this year. Located in the rural area of Martinsville, Patrick Henry Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,002, with out-of-state students paying around $11,440. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $11,235 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $33,358. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pasco Hernando Community College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice schools. Pasco Hernando Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of New Port Richey. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,155, while out-of-state students pay about $12,032. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $14,908. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $53,856. Set against $14,908 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southern Arkansas University Tech landed the #20 spot for criminal justice value this year. Southern Arkansas University Tech is a small public school located in the rural area of Camden. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,040, compared with $6,480 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,488 to complete the criminal justice program here. Criminal Justice graduates of Southern Arkansas University Tech earn a median of $34,302 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,488 median debt.
West Kentucky Community And Technical College earned the #21 position for value in criminal justice this year. Set in the city of Paducah, West Kentucky Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Students borrow a median of $10,778 to complete the criminal justice program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from West Kentucky Community And Technical College generally make around $31,903. That is a strong return on a $10,778 median debt.
Big Sandy Community And Technical College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice schools. Set in the town of Prestonsburg, Big Sandy Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Students borrow a median of $10,994 to complete the criminal justice program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Big Sandy Community And Technical College generally make around $29,432. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Eastern Florida State College earned the #23 position for value in criminal justice this year. Located in the city of Melbourne, Eastern Florida State College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,791, while out-of-state students pay about $10,976. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $8,635. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $51,461. Set against $8,635 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Miami Dade College placed #24 among the best values for criminal justice. Set in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,838, while out-of-state students pay about $9,661. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $9,563 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $34,209. Set against $9,563 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hopkinsville Community College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice schools. Set in the town of Hopkinsville, Hopkinsville Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,269 to complete the criminal justice program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Hopkinsville Community College generally make around $43,678. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in criminal justice:
Narrow Criminal Justice Schools by State
More Criminal Justice Rankings
View All Criminal Justice Rankings >
Notes and References
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 · 219 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 80 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.
