2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in Louisiana

[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 schools below stand out for delivering a strong criminal justice & corrections education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 27 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools.
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2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in Louisiana
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in criminal justice & corrections, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools
Our analysis ranked Louisiana State University Shreveport the best value for a degree in criminal justice & corrections in Louisiana. Louisiana State University Shreveport is a large public school located in the city of Shreveport. Students from in state pay about $7,327 in tuition and fees. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $28,907 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $45,300. Set against $28,907 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Louisiana State University Alexandria earned it the #2 place for criminal justice & corrections. Louisiana State University Alexandria is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Alexandria. Students from in state pay about $7,050 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,725. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $26,954 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $39,917. Set against $26,954 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 92%.
A rank of #3 makes Louisiana Delta Community College one of the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the city of Monroe, Louisiana Delta Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,159. Students borrow a median of $14,024 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Louisiana Delta Community College generally make around $35,839. Set against $14,024 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice & corrections will find it at Sowela Technical Community College, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Lake Charles, Sowela Technical Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,305. Students borrow a median of $7,391 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Sowela Technical Community College earn a median of $23,832 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,391 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Louisiana State University Eunice earned it the #5 place for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the town of Eunice, Louisiana State University Eunice is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,802, with out-of-state students paying around $10,166. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $16,239. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Louisiana State University Eunice earn a median of $45,300 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,239 median debt.
South Louisiana Community College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. South Louisiana Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Lafayette. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,210. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $11,950. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $38,854. Set against $11,950 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Bossier Parish Community College landed the #7 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Set in the city of Bossier City, Bossier Parish Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,268. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Bossier Parish Community College earn a median of $32,318 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Baton Rouge Community College came in at #8 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the city of Baton Rouge, Baton Rouge Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,321. Students borrow a median of $25,597 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $36,066. That is a strong return on a $25,597 median debt.
Northshore Technical Community College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the rural area of Lacombe, Northshore Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,299. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $14,815 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $31,601. Set against $14,815 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Louisiana Monroe ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the city of Monroe, University Of Louisiana Monroe is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,190 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,290 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from University Of Louisiana Monroe generally make around $36,313. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Mcneese State University earned the #11 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Mcneese State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Lake Charles. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,489, compared with $9,989 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Mcneese State University generally make around $37,567. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Nicholls State University came in at #12 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the city of Thibodaux, Nicholls State University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,149, compared with $9,242 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,513 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Nicholls State University earn a median of $43,888 early in their careers. Set against $24,513 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Southeastern Louisiana University earned the #13 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Southeastern Louisiana University is a large public school located in the city of Hammond. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,373, while out-of-state students pay about $20,851. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $35,024. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Delgado Community College placed #14 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the city of New Orleans, Delgado Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,279. Students borrow a median of $30,687 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Delgado Community College earn a median of $29,276 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Louisiana Lafayette ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the city of Lafayette, University Of Louisiana Lafayette is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,418, with out-of-state students paying around $24,146. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $23,557. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from University Of Louisiana Lafayette generally make around $35,872. Set against $23,557 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Southern University At Shreveport came in at #16 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the city of Shreveport, Southern University At Shreveport is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,958. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $18,922. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Southern University At Shreveport earn a median of $40,136 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northwestern State University Of Louisiana earned the #17 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Northwestern State University Of Louisiana is a large public school located in the town of Natchitoches. Students from in state pay about $8,864 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,652 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Northwestern State University Of Louisiana earn a median of $30,559 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Southern University At New Orleans ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the city of New Orleans, Southern University At New Orleans is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,054, compared with $16,954 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $45,149. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $39,837. Set against $45,149 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Dillard University came in at #19 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the city of New Orleans, Dillard University is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $22,734. Students borrow a median of $32,187 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Dillard University earn a median of $26,744 early in their careers. Set against $32,187 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Grambling State University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the town of Grambling, Grambling State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,683 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $16,706. Students borrow a median of $39,871 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $33,070. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Grambling State University admits about 45% of applicants.
Southern University And A And M College placed #21 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Located in the city of Baton Rouge, Southern University And A And M College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,922, compared with $17,272 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $31,000. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $36,161. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 35%.
More Criminal Justice & Corrections Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 27 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 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.