2026 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Florida
[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 41 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value criminal justice schools.
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2026 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Florida
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
St Petersburg College tops our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice schools in Florida. Located in the city of St. Petersburg, St Petersburg College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,682 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,286 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $14,080 in student loans. Criminal Justice graduates of St Petersburg College earn a median of $48,218 early in their careers. Set against $14,080 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Chipola College earned it the #2 place for criminal justice. Chipola College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Marianna. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,120, while out-of-state students pay about $8,950. Students borrow a median of $8,847 to complete the criminal justice program here. Criminal Justice graduates of Chipola College earn a median of $43,599 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice will find it at Florida State College At Jacksonville, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Jacksonville, Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,657, compared with $9,631 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $15,796 in student loans. Criminal Justice graduates of Florida State College At Jacksonville earn a median of $60,055 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Gulf Coast State College earned it the #4 place for criminal justice. Set in the city of Panama City, Gulf Coast State College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,370 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,635. Students borrow a median of $6,250 to complete the criminal justice program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Gulf Coast State College generally make around $45,648. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice will find it at North Florida Community College, which ranked #5. North Florida Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Madison. In-state tuition and fees average $2,994, with out-of-state students paying around $11,460. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $7,902 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from North Florida Community College generally make around $46,266. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Seminole State College Of Florida placed #6 among the best values for criminal justice. Located in the city of Sanford, Seminole State College Of Florida is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,122, compared with $11,447 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,942 to complete the criminal justice program here. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $36,589. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Florida Gateway College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice schools. Florida Gateway College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Lake City. In-state tuition and fees average $3,100, compared with $11,747 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $7,500. Criminal Justice graduates of Florida Gateway College earn a median of $44,048 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hillsborough Community College landed the #8 spot for criminal justice value this year. Hillsborough Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. Students from in state pay about $2,491 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,088. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $15,789. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $47,631. That is a strong return on a $15,789 median debt.
Indian River State College placed #9 among the best values for criminal justice. Located in the suburb of Fort Pierce, Indian River State College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,764, while out-of-state students pay about $10,201. Students borrow a median of $9,176 to complete the criminal justice program here. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $51,825. Set against $9,176 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South Florida State College came in at #10 for value in criminal justice this year. South Florida State College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Avon Park. In-state tuition and fees average $3,165, with out-of-state students paying around $11,859. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $8,204 in student loans. Criminal Justice graduates of South Florida State College earn a median of $42,415 early in their careers. Set against $8,204 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pasco Hernando Community College landed the #11 spot for criminal justice value this year. Pasco Hernando Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of New Port Richey. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,155, while out-of-state students pay about $12,032. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $14,908. Criminal Justice graduates of Pasco Hernando Community College earn a median of $53,856 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northwest Florida State College landed the #12 spot for criminal justice value 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, while out-of-state students pay about $10,612. Students borrow a median of $11,808 to complete the criminal justice program here. Criminal Justice graduates of Northwest Florida State College earn a median of $48,463 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,808 median debt.
Miami Dade College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice schools. Located in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,838, with out-of-state students paying around $9,661. Students borrow a median of $9,563 to complete the criminal justice program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Miami Dade College generally make around $34,209. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Eastern Florida State College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice schools. Eastern Florida State College is a large public school located in the city of Melbourne. In-state tuition and fees average $2,791, with out-of-state students paying around $10,976. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $8,635 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $51,461. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Florida Atlantic University earned the #15 position for value in criminal justice this year. Located in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,879, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $18,750. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Florida Atlantic University generally make around $41,963. Set against $18,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
Daytona State College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice schools. Located in the city of Daytona Beach, Daytona State College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,106, compared with $11,994 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,169 to complete the criminal justice program here. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $52,755. That is a strong return on a $8,169 median debt.
Saint Johns River State College came in at #17 for value in criminal justice this year. Saint Johns River State College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Palatka. Students from in state pay about $2,591 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,334 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,293 to complete the criminal justice program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Saint Johns River State College generally make around $47,807. Set against $16,293 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Edison State College placed #18 among the best values for criminal justice. Set in the suburb of Fort Myers, Edison State College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,401, with out-of-state students paying around $12,979. Students borrow a median of $13,356 to complete the criminal justice program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Edison State College generally make around $52,597. That is a strong return on a $13,356 median debt.
Polk State College earned the #19 position for value in criminal justice this year. Polk State College is a large public school located in the city of Winter Haven. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,694, while out-of-state students pay about $9,818. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $14,451 in student loans. Criminal Justice graduates of Polk State College earn a median of $47,071 early in their careers. Set against $14,451 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of South Florida Main Campus came in at #20 for value in criminal justice this year. Set in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,410, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $21,829 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $58,306. That is a strong return on a $21,829 median debt. The acceptance rate is 43%.
Palm Beach State College placed #21 among the best values for criminal justice. Set in the suburb of Lake Worth, Palm Beach State College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,050, while out-of-state students pay about $10,910. Students borrow a median of $16,000 to complete the criminal justice program here. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $69,415. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Tallahassee Community College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice schools. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Tallahassee Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,026, with out-of-state students paying around $8,062. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $26,862. Criminal Justice graduates of Tallahassee Community College earn a median of $43,235 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Valencia College landed the #23 spot for criminal justice value this year. Valencia College is a very large public school located in the city of Orlando. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,664, with out-of-state students paying around $9,576. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $10,500. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Valencia College generally make around $33,246. That is a strong return on a $10,500 median debt.
Santa Fe College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice schools. Located in the suburb of Gainesville, Santa Fe College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,563 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,189. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $17,558. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $45,407. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of Central Florida landed the #25 spot for criminal justice value this year. Set in the city of Ocala, College Of Central Florida is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,710, with out-of-state students paying around $10,517. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $18,934 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from College Of Central Florida generally make around $48,055. Set against $18,934 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 35 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in criminal justice:
More Criminal Justice Rankings
View All Criminal Justice Rankings >
Notes and References
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 · 41 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 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.
