by our College Data Analytics Team
[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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 10 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for criminal justice & corrections students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in criminal justice & corrections, balancing cost against outcomes.
Our analysis ranked Lake Area Technical Institute the best value for a degree in criminal justice & corrections in South Dakota. Lake Area Technical Institute is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Watertown. In-state tuition and fees average $6,718. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $41,230. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes Northern State University one of the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Northern State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Aberdeen. Students from in state pay about $8,845 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,947. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $26,143. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $45,824. Set against $26,143 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Southeast Technical Institute came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Southeast Technical Institute is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Sioux Falls. Students from in state pay about $7,650 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $12,000. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Southeast Technical Institute generally make around $49,560. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes University Of South Dakota one of the best values for criminal justice & corrections. University Of South Dakota is a large public school located in the town of Vermillion. In-state tuition and fees average $9,432, compared with $12,942 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from University Of South Dakota generally make around $40,402. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. University Of South Dakota admits about 99% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Sioux Falls earned it the #5 place for criminal justice & corrections. Located in the city of Sioux Falls, University Of Sioux Falls is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,750. Students borrow a median of $26,950 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $38,858. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 83%.
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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 · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.