2026 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Virginia
[Criminal Justice](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/criminal-justice/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 37 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value criminal justice schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Virginia
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
Wytheville Community College earned the #1 spot for value among criminal justice schools in Virginia. Set in the town of Wytheville, Wytheville Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,007, with out-of-state students paying around $11,445. Students borrow a median of $9,542 to complete the criminal justice program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Wytheville Community College generally make around $38,907. Set against $9,542 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Richmond, J Sargeant Reynolds Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,280 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,718. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $16,131 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $36,965. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Patrick Henry Community College one of the best values for criminal justice. Located in the rural area of Martinsville, Patrick Henry Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,002, with out-of-state students paying around $11,440. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $11,235. Criminal Justice graduates of Patrick Henry Community College earn a median of $33,358 early in their careers. Set against $11,235 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Virginia Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice, landing the #4 spot this year. Central Virginia Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Lynchburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,157, while out-of-state students pay about $11,595. Students borrow a median of $10,384 to complete the criminal justice program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Central Virginia Community College generally make around $32,309. Set against $10,384 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice will find it at John Tyler Community College, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of Chester, John Tyler Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,082, with out-of-state students paying around $11,520. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $11,262 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $33,766. Set against $11,262 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lord Fairfax Community College placed #6 among the best values for criminal justice. Lord Fairfax Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Middletown. In-state tuition and fees average $5,072, compared with $11,510 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $10,698 in student loans. Criminal Justice graduates of Lord Fairfax Community College earn a median of $37,531 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,698 median debt.
New River Community College earned the #7 position for value in criminal justice this year. Located in the town of Dublin, New River Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,979, compared with $11,417 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,132 to complete the criminal justice program here. Criminal Justice graduates of New River Community College earn a median of $46,892 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,132 median debt.
Germanna Community College landed the #8 spot for criminal justice value this year. Set in the rural area of Locust Grove, Germanna Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,257, compared with $11,648 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,999 to complete the criminal justice program here. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $41,880. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southside Virginia Community College placed #9 among the best values for criminal justice. Set in the rural area of Alberta, Southside Virginia Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,007, with out-of-state students paying around $11,445. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $7,467. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $29,666. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Piedmont Virginia Community College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice schools. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, Piedmont Virginia Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,072 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,510. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $12,495. Criminal Justice graduates of Piedmont Virginia Community College earn a median of $46,129 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,495 median debt.
Northern Virginia Community College landed the #11 spot for criminal justice value this year. Located in the suburb of Annandale, Northern Virginia Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,891, compared with $12,410 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $25,999. Criminal Justice graduates of Northern Virginia Community College earn a median of $40,126 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,999 median debt.
Danville Community College earned the #12 position for value in criminal justice this year. Located in the town of Danville, Danville Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,992, with out-of-state students paying around $11,430. Students borrow a median of $9,494 to complete the criminal justice program here. Criminal Justice graduates of Danville Community College earn a median of $44,922 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,494 median debt.
Mountain Empire Community College landed the #13 spot for criminal justice value this year. Mountain Empire Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Big Stone Gap. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,007, with out-of-state students paying around $11,445. Students borrow a median of $9,036 to complete the criminal justice program here. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $36,988. Set against $9,036 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tidewater Community College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice schools. Located in the city of Norfolk, Tidewater Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,858 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,296 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,795 to complete the criminal justice program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Tidewater Community College generally make around $26,965. Set against $14,795 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave landed the #15 spot for criminal justice value this year. Set in the rural area of Weyers Cave, Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,646, with out-of-state students paying around $12,084. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $11,768. Criminal Justice graduates of Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave earn a median of $40,020 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,768 median debt.
George Mason University placed #16 among the best values for criminal justice. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,220 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $38,688. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $20,761. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $49,815. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Southwest Virginia Community College came in at #17 for value in criminal justice this year. Located in the rural area of Cedar Bluff, Southwest Virginia Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,075, with out-of-state students paying around $11,513. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $5,500. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $32,277. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Regent University earned the #18 position for value in criminal justice this year. Located in the city of Virginia Beach, Regent University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,650. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $21,237 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Regent University generally make around $46,005. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 38%.
Virginia Commonwealth University came in at #19 for value in criminal justice this year. Set in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,720, with out-of-state students paying around $39,884. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the criminal justice program here. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $38,495. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
University Of Virginia Main Campus earned the #20 position for value in criminal justice this year. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $23,118, compared with $61,591 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,627 to complete the criminal justice program here. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $69,126. That is a strong return on a $18,627 median debt. The acceptance rate is 17%.
Averett University came in at #21 for value in criminal justice this year. Located in the town of Danville, Averett University is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,550. Students borrow a median of $29,703 to complete the criminal justice program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Averett University generally make around $43,494. Set against $29,703 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Averett University admits about 57% of applicants.
Marymount University earned the #22 position for value in criminal justice this year. Set in the city of Arlington, Marymount University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,120. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Marymount University generally make around $35,642. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Marymount University admits about 93% of applicants.
Shenandoah University earned the #23 position for value in criminal justice this year. Set in the city of Winchester, Shenandoah University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $36,950 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,810 to complete the criminal justice program here. Criminal Justice graduates of Shenandoah University earn a median of $46,816 early in their careers. Set against $25,810 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Hampton University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice schools. Hampton University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Hampton. Students from in state pay about $30,592 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $27,000. Criminal Justice graduates of Hampton University earn a median of $31,335 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 62% of applicants are accepted.
More Criminal Justice Rankings
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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 · 37 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.
