2026 Best Value Criminology Schools in the Southeast Region

1

University Of Florida
Gainesville, FL

University Of Florida earned the #1 spot for value among criminology schools in the Southeast Region. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,381, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. Criminology graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Early-career criminology graduates make about $35,096. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 24%.

2

University Of Florida Online
Gainesville, FL

University Of Florida Online is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminology, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida Online is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,876, with out-of-state students paying around $16,579. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the criminology program here. Criminology graduates of University Of Florida Online earn a median of $35,096 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 61%.

3

University Of South Florida Main Campus
Tampa, FL

University Of South Florida Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminology, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,410, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Students borrow a median of $20,302 to complete the criminology program here. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from University Of South Florida Main Campus generally make around $37,108. That is a strong return on a $20,302 median debt. University Of South Florida Main Campus admits about 43% of applicants.

4

University Of North Carolina At Charlotte
Charlotte, NC

University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminology, landing the #4 spot this year. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. Students from in state pay about $7,239 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,492 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,673 to complete the criminology program here. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Charlotte generally make around $51,799. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.

5

West Virginia University
Morgantown, WV

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at West Virginia University earned it the #5 place for criminology. Set in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,104 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,608. Criminology graduates carry a median of $23,772 in student loans. Criminology graduates of West Virginia University earn a median of $51,750 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.

6

Old Dominion University
Norfolk, VA

Old Dominion University placed #6 among the best values for criminology. Old Dominion University is a very large public school located in the city of Norfolk. Students from in state pay about $12,750 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $33,780. Criminology graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career criminology graduates make about $37,255. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.

7

Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green, KY

Western Kentucky University came in at #7 for value in criminology this year. Western Kentucky University is a large public school located in the city of Bowling Green. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,652, compared with $27,000 for out-of-state students. Criminology graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Western Kentucky University generally make around $32,370. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.

8

Arkansas State University Main Campus
Jonesboro, AR

Arkansas State University Main Campus ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value criminology schools. Set in the city of Jonesboro, Arkansas State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,090, while out-of-state students pay about $14,522. Students borrow a median of $27,875 to complete the criminology program here. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Arkansas State University Main Campus generally make around $36,732. That is a strong return on a $27,875 median debt. Arkansas State University Main Campus admits about 82% of applicants.

9

Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, MS

Mississippi State University came in at #9 for value in criminology this year. Set in the town of Mississippi State, Mississippi State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,202, while out-of-state students pay about $27,637. Criminology graduates carry a median of $23,356 in student loans. Criminology graduates of Mississippi State University earn a median of $33,191 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,356 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.

10

Lander University
Greenwood, SC

Lander University came in at #10 for value in criminology this year. Lander University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Greenwood. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,700, compared with $21,300 for out-of-state students. Criminology graduates carry a median of $26,064 in student loans. Early-career criminology graduates make about $37,548. That is a strong return on a $26,064 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.

11

East Carolina University
Greenville, NC

East Carolina University came in at #11 for value in criminology this year. Located in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,361, while out-of-state students pay about $23,638. Criminology graduates carry a median of $24,747 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from East Carolina University generally make around $51,931. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.

12

North Carolina State University At Raleigh
Raleigh, NC

North Carolina State University At Raleigh ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value criminology schools. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,799, compared with $32,847 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,875 to complete the criminology program here. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh generally make around $35,076. Set against $21,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.

13

University Of Central Arkansas
Conway, AR

University Of Central Arkansas earned the #13 position for value in criminology this year. Located in the city of Conway, University Of Central Arkansas is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,523, while out-of-state students pay about $18,023. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $20,078. Criminology graduates of University Of Central Arkansas earn a median of $38,453 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.

14

University Of West Georgia
Carrollton, GA

University Of West Georgia placed #14 among the best values for criminology. Located in the town of Carrollton, University Of West Georgia is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,088, compared with $17,800 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $28,500. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from University Of West Georgia generally make around $33,839. That is a strong return on a $28,500 median debt. University Of West Georgia admits about 52% of applicants.

15

Georgia Southern University
Statesboro, GA

Georgia Southern University landed the #15 spot for criminology value this year. Set in the town of Statesboro, Georgia Southern University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,022 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,734. Criminology graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Criminology graduates of Georgia Southern University earn a median of $35,588 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.

16

Mary Baldwin College
Staunton, VA

Mary Baldwin College placed #16 among the best values for criminology. Set in the city of Staunton, Mary Baldwin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $21,187 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $29,562. Early-career criminology graduates make about $60,386. Set against $29,562 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

17

University Of North Carolina At Wilmington
Wilmington, NC

University Of North Carolina At Wilmington earned the #17 position for value in criminology this year. Set in the city of Wilmington, University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,277, while out-of-state students pay about $24,152. Students borrow a median of $22,915 to complete the criminology program here. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Wilmington generally make around $34,443. Set against $22,915 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 64%.

18

Davis And Elkins College
Elkins, WV

Davis And Elkins College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value criminology schools. Located in the town of Elkins, Davis And Elkins College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $31,820. Students borrow a median of $26,250 to complete the criminology program here. Early-career criminology graduates make about $71,201. Set against $26,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.

19

Coker College
Hartsville, SC

Coker College landed the #19 spot for criminology value this year. Located in the town of Hartsville, Coker College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $33,416. Criminology graduates carry a median of $30,000 in student loans. Criminology graduates of Coker College earn a median of $25,862 early in their careers. Set against $30,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%.

20

Lynchburg College
Lynchburg, VA

Lynchburg College earned the #20 position for value in criminology this year. Lynchburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $36,750. Criminology graduates of Lynchburg College earn a median of $107,159 early in their careers. The acceptance rate is 43%.

21

Virginia Union University
Richmond, VA

Virginia Union University placed #21 among the best values for criminology. Virginia Union University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Richmond. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,830. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $31,450. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Virginia Union University generally make around $30,291. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 98%.

22

Clemson University
Clemson, SC

Clemson University placed #22 among the best values for criminology. Clemson University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Clemson. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,554, while out-of-state students pay about $40,866. Criminology graduates carry a median of $22,375 in student loans. Early-career criminology graduates make about $38,057. Set against $22,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 38%.

23

Johnson C Smith University
Charlotte, NC

Johnson C Smith University earned the #23 position for value in criminology this year. Set in the city of Charlotte, Johnson C Smith University is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,300. Students borrow a median of $32,047 to complete the criminology program here. Criminology graduates of Johnson C Smith University earn a median of $32,751 early in their careers. Set against $32,047 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Johnson C Smith University admits about 45% of applicants.

24

The University Of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, AL

The University Of Alabama landed the #24 spot for criminology value this year. The University Of Alabama is a very large public school located in the city of Tuscaloosa. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,180, compared with $34,172 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $24,496. Criminology graduates of The University Of Alabama earn a median of $50,740 early in their careers. Set against $24,496 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Alabama admits about 77% of applicants.

25

Peace College
Raleigh, NC

Peace College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best value criminology schools. Peace College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Raleigh. Students from in state pay about $34,176 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the criminology program here. Early-career criminology graduates make about $41,509. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.