2026 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Tennessee
[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 17 schools to find the best return on investment for criminal justice students.
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2026 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Tennessee
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
Our analysis ranked Middle Tennessee State University the best value for a degree in criminal justice in Tennessee. Located in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,266, while out-of-state students pay about $31,574. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $24,093 in student loans. Criminal Justice graduates of Middle Tennessee State University earn a median of $37,952 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,093 median debt. Middle Tennessee State University admits about 69% of applicants.
The University Of Tennessee Martin is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the town of Martin, The University Of Tennessee Martin is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,560, while out-of-state students pay about $16,600. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $22,671. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee Martin generally make around $32,167. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Tennessee Martin admits about 88% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice will find it at Tennessee State University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Nashville, Tennessee State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,616, compared with $22,416 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $28,001 to complete the criminal justice program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Tennessee State University generally make around $32,555. That is a strong return on a $28,001 median debt. Tennessee State University admits about 70% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga one of the best values for criminal justice. Located in the city of Chattanooga, The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,448, compared with $18,512 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $22,995 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $37,403. That is a strong return on a $22,995 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Le Moyne Owen College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice schools. Le Moyne Owen College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Memphis. Students from in state pay about $12,076 in tuition and fees. Median earnings reach $35,594 ten years out. The acceptance rate is 99%.
University Of Memphis placed #6 among the best values for criminal justice. University Of Memphis is a very large public school located in the city of Memphis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,728, while out-of-state students pay about $15,384. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $35,900. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Trevecca Nazarene University placed #7 among the best values for criminal justice. Located in the city of Nashville, Trevecca Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $31,300. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $24,962. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Trevecca Nazarene University generally make around $52,004. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Trevecca Nazarene University admits about 69% of applicants.
Austin Peay State University landed the #8 spot for criminal justice value this year. Set in the city of Clarksville, Austin Peay State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,006, compared with $14,766 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $25,281 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $36,749. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
East Tennessee State University came in at #9 for value in criminal justice this year. Located in the city of Johnson City, East Tennessee State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,216, compared with $13,726 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $25,942. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $30,097. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
South College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice schools. Set in the city of Knoxville, South College is a large private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,535. Students borrow a median of $24,533 to complete the criminal justice program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from South College generally make around $24,095. That is a strong return on a $24,533 median debt.
Cumberland University came in at #11 for value in criminal justice this year. Cumberland University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Lebanon. Students from in state pay about $27,840 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $21,902 to complete the criminal justice program here. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $45,223. That is a strong return on a $21,902 median debt. Cumberland University admits about 67% of applicants.
Strayer University Tennessee landed the #12 spot for criminal justice value this year. Located in the city of Memphis, Strayer University Tennessee is a mid-sized private for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,920. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $56,937 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $43,405. That is a strong return on a $56,937 median debt.
Bethel University Tennessee earned the #13 position for value in criminal justice this year. Bethel University Tennessee is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of McKenzie. In-state tuition and fees average $18,712. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $24,444 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Bethel University Tennessee generally make around $54,442. That is a strong return on a $24,444 median debt. Bethel University Tennessee admits about 60% 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 · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.
