2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in Illinois
[Criminal Justice & Corrections](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/) 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 75 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in Illinois
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the criminal justice & corrections degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools
Leading the list is Moraine Valley Community College, our #1 best value for criminal justice & corrections in Illinois. Moraine Valley Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Palos Hills. Students from in state pay about $3,822 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,846. Students borrow a median of $11,149 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $43,844. That is a strong return on a $11,149 median debt.
Lewis And Clark Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & corrections, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Godfrey, Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,340 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,840. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $9,120 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $31,763. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College earned it the #3 place for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,590, with out-of-state students paying around $15,150. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $8,093 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $33,073. Set against $8,093 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice & corrections will find it at Triton College, which ranked #4. Triton College is a large public school located in the suburb of River Grove. Students from in state pay about $5,070 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,330 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,994 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Triton College generally make around $43,278. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,590, with out-of-state students paying around $15,150. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $7,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College generally make around $33,326. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kankakee Community College came in at #6 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Kankakee Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Kankakee. Students from in state pay about $5,220 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $25,830. Students borrow a median of $13,289 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $60,509. That is a strong return on a $13,289 median debt.
Elgin Community College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Elgin Community College is a large public school located in the city of Elgin. Students from in state pay about $3,252 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,516 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $7,727 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $43,975. Set against $7,727 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Harper College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,894, with out-of-state students paying around $11,874. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $10,963. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $38,474. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Joliet Junior College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Joliet Junior College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Joliet. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,530, while out-of-state students pay about $13,800. Students borrow a median of $11,995 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Joliet Junior College generally make around $40,118. Set against $11,995 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of Dupage came in at #10 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,560, compared with $12,750 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $7,521 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $28,749. That is a strong return on a $7,521 median debt.
Oakton Community College landed the #11 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Located in the city of Des Plaines, Oakton Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,985, compared with $12,462 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $7,750 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $48,838. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
City Colleges Of Chicago Olive Harvey College placed #12 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Olive Harvey College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,590, while out-of-state students pay about $15,150. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $8,478. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from City Colleges Of Chicago Olive Harvey College generally make around $25,842. Set against $8,478 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kishwaukee College earned the #13 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Kishwaukee College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Malta. Students from in state pay about $4,560 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $13,680. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $10,328 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $30,398. That is a strong return on a $10,328 median debt.
Southwestern Illinois College earned the #14 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Southwestern Illinois College is a large public school located in the suburb of Belleville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,230, with out-of-state students paying around $6,720. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Southwestern Illinois College earn a median of $44,345 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kaskaskia College earned the #15 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the rural area of Centralia, Kaskaskia College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,800 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,570. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $7,875 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Kaskaskia College generally make around $45,658. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Morton College came in at #16 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Morton College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Cicero. In-state tuition and fees average $4,884, with out-of-state students paying around $11,028. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $7,734 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Morton College generally make around $31,143. That is a strong return on a $7,734 median debt.
University Of Illinois At Springfield earned the #17 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the city of Springfield, University Of Illinois At Springfield is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,557 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,139. Students borrow a median of $22,418 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Springfield generally make around $41,064. That is a strong return on a $22,418 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Rend Lake College came in at #18 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the rural area of Ina, Rend Lake College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,500, compared with $7,800 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $8,688 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Rend Lake College generally make around $42,770. Set against $8,688 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Governors State University earned the #19 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the suburb of University Park, Governors State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,004. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $22,889 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Governors State University generally make around $42,456. Set against $22,889 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 48% of applicants are accepted.
Western Illinois University placed #20 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,572 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Western Illinois University generally make around $45,140. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 71%.
University Of Illinois At Chicago earned the #21 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,949, while out-of-state students pay about $32,009. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $15,875 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $34,551. That is a strong return on a $15,875 median debt. University Of Illinois At Chicago admits about 77% of applicants.
Saint Xavier University earned the #22 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,945. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $27,000. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Saint Xavier University earn a median of $39,033 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Saint Xavier University admits about 84% of applicants.
Northeastern Illinois University earned the #23 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $12,383 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,726. Students borrow a median of $13,625 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $40,719. Set against $13,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville placed #24 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Located in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,092. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville generally make around $39,279. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Eastern Illinois University placed #25 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Located in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,377, with out-of-state students paying around $15,859. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $24,293 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Eastern Illinois University generally make around $40,489. That is a strong return on a $24,293 median debt. Eastern Illinois University admits about 65% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 39 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s criminal justice & corrections value ranking:
More Criminal Justice & Corrections Rankings
View All Criminal Justice & Corrections Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 75 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 26 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.
