2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in Maine

[Criminal Justice & Corrections](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/) 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 11 schools to find the best return on investment for criminal justice & corrections students.
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2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in Maine
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 Central Maine Community College, our #1 best value for criminal justice & corrections in Maine. Set in the city of Auburn, Central Maine Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,140, while out-of-state students pay about $7,020. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Central Maine Community College generally make around $43,112. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Eastern Maine Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & corrections, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Bangor, Eastern Maine Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,156, with out-of-state students paying around $7,036. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $17,741 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Eastern Maine Community College generally make around $52,263. Set against $17,741 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Maine At Presque Isle came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the rural area of Presque Isle, University Of Maine At Presque Isle is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,402 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,862 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $23,434. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $41,148. Set against $23,434 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Maine At Augusta is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & corrections, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the town of Augusta, University Of Maine At Augusta is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,888, with out-of-state students paying around $22,178. Students borrow a median of $36,010 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from University Of Maine At Augusta generally make around $38,588. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Southern Maine Community College earned it the #5 place for criminal justice & corrections. Southern Maine Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of South Portland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,156, with out-of-state students paying around $7,036. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $8,750. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $44,869. Set against $8,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Husson University came in at #6 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the city of Bangor, Husson University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,304. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $27,178 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Husson University earn a median of $46,523 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Husson University admits about 81% of applicants.
More Criminal Justice & Corrections Rankings
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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 · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.