2026 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Arkansas
[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 best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 25 schools to find the best return on investment for criminal justice students.
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2026 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Arkansas
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in criminal justice, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Criminal Justice Schools
Southern Arkansas University Tech tops our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice schools in Arkansas. Set in the rural area of Camden, Southern Arkansas University Tech is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,040, while out-of-state students pay about $6,480. Students borrow a median of $8,488 to complete the criminal justice program here. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $34,302. That is a strong return on a $8,488 median debt.
Phillips Community College Of The University Of Arkansas came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice schools. Phillips Community College Of The University Of Arkansas is a small public school located in the town of Helena. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,380, while out-of-state students pay about $4,550. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $5,500. Criminal Justice graduates of Phillips Community College Of The University Of Arkansas earn a median of $45,190 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northwest Arkansas Community College earned it the #3 place for criminal justice. Northwest Arkansas Community College is a large public school located in the city of Bentonville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,342, compared with $5,238 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $12,479. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $40,671. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes Arkansas State University Beebe one of the best values for criminal justice. Located in the town of Beebe, Arkansas State University Beebe is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,336, compared with $5,232 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $9,350. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $30,293. Set against $9,350 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice will find it at Arkansas State University Newport, which ranked #5. Arkansas State University Newport is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Newport. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,312, with out-of-state students paying around $4,752. Students borrow a median of $10,925 to complete the criminal justice program here. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $44,500. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Arkansas State University Mountain Home earned the #6 position for value in criminal justice this year. Arkansas State University Mountain Home is a small public school located in the town of Mountain Home. In-state tuition and fees average $3,312, compared with $4,776 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,097 to complete the criminal justice program here. Criminal Justice graduates of Arkansas State University Mountain Home earn a median of $39,011 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,097 median debt.
University Of Arkansas Fort Smith landed the #7 spot for criminal justice value this year. Located in the city of Fort Smith, University Of Arkansas Fort Smith is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $7,334 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,182. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $18,750 in student loans. Criminal Justice graduates of University Of Arkansas Fort Smith earn a median of $33,460 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,750 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Grantham University landed the #8 spot for criminal justice value this year. Located in the city of LIttle Rock, Grantham University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,520. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $32,697. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Grantham University generally make around $44,782. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
National Park Community College placed #9 among the best values for criminal justice. National Park Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Hot Springs. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,600, with out-of-state students paying around $7,280. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $14,162 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from National Park Community College generally make around $34,904. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff earned the #10 position for value in criminal justice this year. Located in the town of Pine Bluff, University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,375, while out-of-state students pay about $17,955. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff generally make around $35,490. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff admits about 41% of applicants.
Arkansas Tech University came in at #11 for value in criminal justice this year. Arkansas Tech University is a large public school located in the town of Russellville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,674, with out-of-state students paying around $14,668. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $25,785. Criminal Justice graduates of Arkansas Tech University earn a median of $35,642 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Philander Smith College placed #12 among the best values for criminal justice. Philander Smith College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Little Rock. Students from in state pay about $13,014 in tuition and fees. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $38,630 in student loans. Criminal Justice graduates of Philander Smith College earn a median of $27,413 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Arkansas At Little Rock ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice schools. University Of Arkansas At Little Rock is a large public school located in the city of Little Rock. In-state tuition and fees average $9,911, compared with $22,721 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $30,026 to complete the criminal justice program here. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $47,170. That is a strong return on a $30,026 median debt. University Of Arkansas At Little Rock admits about 59% of applicants.
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Notes and References
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 · 25 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
