2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in Arizona
[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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 29 schools to find the best return on investment for criminal justice & corrections students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in Arizona
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 Pima Community College, our #1 best value for criminal justice & corrections in Arizona. Pima Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,442, while out-of-state students pay about $7,758. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $7,562 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $47,820. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice & corrections will find it at Yavapai College, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Prescott, Yavapai College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,948 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,486 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,625 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $59,511. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Rio Salado College earned it the #3 place for criminal justice & corrections. Located in the city of Tempe, Rio Salado College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,358, while out-of-state students pay about $8,958. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $11,500 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Rio Salado College earn a median of $51,384 early in their careers. Set against $11,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice & corrections will find it at Central Arizona College, which ranked #4. Set in the rural area of Coolidge, Central Arizona College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,250, with out-of-state students paying around $4,500. Students borrow a median of $11,635 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Central Arizona College earn a median of $48,826 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cochise College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the city of Sierra Vista, Cochise College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,280, while out-of-state students pay about $6,120. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $12,013. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $40,712. Set against $12,013 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Arizona Western College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Arizona Western College is a large public school located in the city of Yuma. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,060, with out-of-state students paying around $9,870. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $44,895.
Phoenix College placed #7 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the city of Phoenix, Phoenix College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $15,204. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Phoenix College earn a median of $51,053 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,204 median debt.
Glendale Community College Glendale Az came in at #8 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the suburb of Glendale, Glendale Community College Glendale Az is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,358 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,959 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $15,996. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Glendale Community College Glendale Az generally make around $51,483. Set against $15,996 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South Mountain Community College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the city of Phoenix, South Mountain Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,958. Graduates go on to earn a median of $39,825 ten years after entry.
Chandler Gilbert Community College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Chandler Gilbert Community College is a large public school located in the city of Chandler. Students from in state pay about $2,358 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $10,447. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $46,943. Set against $10,447 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Estrella Mountain Community College came in at #11 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the suburb of Avondale, Estrella Mountain Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, while out-of-state students pay about $8,959. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $21,752 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Estrella Mountain Community College generally make around $78,359. That is a strong return on a $21,752 median debt.
Mesa Community College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the city of Mesa, Mesa Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $13,750 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $54,730. Set against $13,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Paradise Valley Community College placed #13 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Paradise Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Phoenix. Students from in state pay about $2,358 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,959 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $14,204 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Paradise Valley Community College earn a median of $71,136 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,204 median debt.
Arizona State University earned the #14 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,223, while out-of-state students pay about $33,139. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $22,000 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Arizona State University earn a median of $53,732 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Phoenix Arizona ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the city of Phoenix, University Of Phoenix Arizona is a very large private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $9,552 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $36,117 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from University Of Phoenix Arizona generally make around $46,337. That is a strong return on a $36,117 median debt.
Scottsdale Community College landed the #16 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Located in the rural area of Scottsdale, Scottsdale Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, compared with $8,959 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $13,084. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $48,039. Set against $13,084 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
American Intercontinental University Online landed the #17 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Set in the city of Chandler, American Intercontinental University Online is a very large private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $12,397 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $37,625. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from American Intercontinental University Online generally make around $32,231. Set against $37,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northern Arizona University landed the #18 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Set in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,619 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,044. Students borrow a median of $21,645 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Northern Arizona University generally make around $47,056. Set against $21,645 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Arizona earned the #19 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. University Of Arizona is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. Students from in state pay about $13,573 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $39,903. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $21,861 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from University Of Arizona generally make around $50,834. Set against $21,861 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Arizona admits about 86% of applicants.
Grand Canyon University placed #20 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Located in the city of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University is a very large private for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,508. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $27,048 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Grand Canyon University generally make around $45,737. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Grand Canyon University admits about 79% of applicants.
More Criminal Justice & Corrections Rankings
View All Criminal Justice & Corrections Rankings >
Notes and References
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 · 29 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
