2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in West Virginia
[Criminal Justice & Corrections](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 24 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for criminal justice & corrections students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in West Virginia
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in criminal justice & corrections, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools
For return on investment in criminal justice & corrections, no school beat Blue Ridge Community And Technical College this year. Located in the rural area of Martinsburg, Blue Ridge Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,752, compared with $8,808 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Blue Ridge Community And Technical College generally make around $41,032. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice & corrections will find it at West Virginia University At Parkersburg, which ranked #2. Set in the rural area of Parkersburg, West Virginia University At Parkersburg is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,476 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,424 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $15,595 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $45,400. That is a strong return on a $15,595 median debt.
Potomac State College Of West Virginia University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & corrections, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the town of Keyser, Potomac State College Of West Virginia University is a small public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,280, compared with $13,200 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $19,858 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Potomac State College Of West Virginia University earn a median of $42,670 early in their careers. Set against $19,858 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Marshall University earned it the #4 place for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the city of Huntington, Marshall University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,162, compared with $20,342 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,873 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Marshall University generally make around $32,747. That is a strong return on a $25,873 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
A rank of #5 makes Fairmont State University one of the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Fairmont State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Fairmont. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,708, compared with $18,924 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $25,557 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Fairmont State University generally make around $36,490. That is a strong return on a $25,557 median debt. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
American Public University System came in at #6 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the town of Charles Town, American Public University System is a very large private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,400. Students borrow a median of $21,243 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of American Public University System earn a median of $62,012 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
West Virginia University Institute Of Technology placed #7 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. West Virginia University Institute Of Technology is a small public school located in the city of Beckley. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,424, while out-of-state students pay about $21,072. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $24,864 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from West Virginia University Institute Of Technology generally make around $50,754. Set against $24,864 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. West Virginia University Institute Of Technology admits about 37% of applicants.
Shepherd University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the rural area of Shepherdstown, Shepherd University is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,056, compared with $19,082 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $23,326. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $40,748. That is a strong return on a $23,326 median debt. Shepherd University admits about 97% of applicants.
West Virginia State University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the suburb of Institute, West Virginia State University is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $9,570 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,990. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $25,860. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of West Virginia State University earn a median of $39,056 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,860 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Bluefield State College placed #10 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Located in the town of Bluefield, Bluefield State College is a small public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,648, with out-of-state students paying around $18,376. Students borrow a median of $30,250 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $30,506. That is a strong return on a $30,250 median debt. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Salem International University earned the #11 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the rural area of Salem, Salem International University is a small private for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,070. Students borrow a median of $30,949 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $25,665. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
West Liberty University came in at #12 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the rural area of West Liberty, West Liberty University is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,893, while out-of-state students pay about $17,442. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $26,250 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of West Liberty University earn a median of $48,761 early in their careers. Set against $26,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. West Liberty University admits about 97% of applicants.
West Virginia Wesleyan College earned the #13 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the town of Buckhannon, West Virginia Wesleyan College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $34,090 in tuition and fees. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $31,400. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
More Criminal Justice & Corrections Rankings
View All Criminal Justice & Corrections Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 24 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.
