[Criminal Justice & Corrections](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong criminal justice & corrections education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 1884 schools to find the best return on investment for criminal justice & corrections students.
Leading the list is College Of San Mateo, our #1 best value for criminal justice & corrections in the United States. College Of San Mateo is a large public school located in the city of San Mateo. In-state tuition and fees average $1,332, while out-of-state students pay about $11,428. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $12,831 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $54,172. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Grossmont College one of the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Located in the suburb of El Cajon, Grossmont College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,332 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,628 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $40,309 ten years out.
A rank of #3 makes Moraine Valley Community College one of the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Located in the suburb of Palos Hills, Moraine Valley Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,822, while out-of-state students pay about $9,846. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $11,149. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $43,844. Set against $11,149 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at College Of The Canyons earned it the #4 place for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,166, with out-of-state students paying around $10,958. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $9,776. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of College Of The Canyons earn a median of $51,913 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,776 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Mt San Antonio College earned it the #5 place for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,364, with out-of-state students paying around $10,464. Students borrow a median of $9,384 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $33,692. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Moorpark College earned the #6 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the suburb of Moorpark, Moorpark College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,426 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $17,075 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Moorpark College generally make around $105,599. That is a strong return on a $17,075 median debt.
Lansing Community College placed #7 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Located in the city of Lansing, Lansing Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,100 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,300. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $16,700. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $46,103. That is a strong return on a $16,700 median debt.
Cerritos College landed the #8 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Located in the suburb of Norwalk, Cerritos College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,364 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,004. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $11,306. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Cerritos College earn a median of $29,495 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fresno City College placed #9 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Located in the city of Fresno, Fresno City College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,378 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,638 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $6,187 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $29,467. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pasadena City College earned the #10 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the city of Pasadena, Pasadena City College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,180, compared with $10,924 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $9,191 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Pasadena City College generally make around $28,492. Set against $9,191 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Sacramento City College placed #11 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the city of Sacramento, Sacramento City College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,288, compared with $12,616 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $11,760. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Sacramento City College generally make around $31,146. Set against $11,760 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northern Essex Community College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Northern Essex Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Haverhill. Students from in state pay about $6,732 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,516 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,432 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Northern Essex Community College generally make around $39,426. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Frederick Community College earned the #13 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the city of Frederick, Frederick Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,849, compared with $10,042 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,778 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $43,733. That is a strong return on a $10,778 median debt.
Moreno Valley College placed #14 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Located in the suburb of Moreno Valley, Moreno Valley College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,428, while out-of-state students pay about $12,498. Students borrow a median of $12,643 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $81,339. That is a strong return on a $12,643 median debt.
Suffolk County Community College placed #15 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Suffolk County Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Selden. In-state tuition and fees average $6,630, with out-of-state students paying around $12,460. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $7,625. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Suffolk County Community College earn a median of $31,617 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,625 median debt.
Gavilan College earned the #16 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the rural area of Gilroy, Gavilan College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,508, with out-of-state students paying around $12,249. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $5,939. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $28,496. Set against $5,939 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Skyline College came in at #17 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the suburb of San Bruno, Skyline College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,332 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,956 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $55,702 ten years out.
Middlesex Community College Bedford earned the #18 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the suburb of Bedford, Middlesex Community College Bedford is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,098, while out-of-state students pay about $12,170. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $10,950 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Middlesex Community College Bedford earn a median of $41,796 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,950 median debt.
Santa Ana College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Santa Ana College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Ana. Students from in state pay about $1,180 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,756. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $11,196 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $39,633. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Reedley College earned the #20 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the town of Reedley, Reedley College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,378, compared with $8,638 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $6,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Reedley College generally make around $30,520. Set against $6,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Victor Valley College came in at #21 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Victor Valley College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Victorville. Students from in state pay about $1,425 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,125. Students borrow a median of $7,995 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Victor Valley College earn a median of $31,600 early in their careers. Set against $7,995 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
San Diego Miramar College earned the #22 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego Miramar College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,146, with out-of-state students paying around $10,002. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $8,250 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of San Diego Miramar College earn a median of $22,722 early in their careers. Set against $8,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Del Mar College landed the #23 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Located in the city of Corpus Christi, Del Mar College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,500, while out-of-state students pay about $6,050. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $6,250. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $40,661. Set against $6,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Santa Rosa Junior College earned the #24 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,318 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,308. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $14,125. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $111,649. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Chabot College earned the #25 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the suburb of Hayward, Chabot College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,150, while out-of-state students pay about $8,686. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $14,122. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $85,175. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in criminal justice & corrections:
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 · 1884 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 311 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).
[Criminal Justice & Corrections](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong criminal justice & corrections education at a price that pays off.
