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2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid

125 Ranked Colleges
3,321 Degrees Awarded
$19,100 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Master's For Those Getting Aid

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2019-2020, 46,252 people earned their degree in criminal justice studies, making the major the 16th most popular in the United States.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 3,321 criminal justice studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid” ranking analyzed 125 colleges that offered a degree in criminal justice studies. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent criminal justice studies programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the criminal justice studies program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The criminal justice studies school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid”.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for master’s degree criminal justice studies students with aid.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice Studies (With Aid)

#25 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Long Beach. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. California State University - Long Beach is a public institution located in Long Beach, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 19 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree criminal justice studies students with aid list, CSULB has also earned the #25 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at CSULB are $17,784.

Read more about Criminal Justice Studies at CSULB

#2

American Public University System

Charles Town, West Virginia
#5 in overall quality

Out of the 125 schools in the Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, American Public University System landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Charles Town, West Virginia, this large private for-profit school awarded 93 diplomas to qualified masters’s criminal justice studies students in 2019-2020.

American Military University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at American Military University are $7,050, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Criminal Justice Studies at American Public University System

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of North Texas at Dallas. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid. UNT Dallas is a public institution located in Dallas, Texas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 9 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of North Texas at Dallas are $13,681.

Read full report on Criminal Justice Studies at University of North Texas at Dallas

#15 in overall quality

Out of the 125 schools in the Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Central Florida landed the #4 spot on the list. Orlando, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s criminal justice studies degrees to 88 students in 2019-2020.

UCF did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Central Florida are $28,657.

Full University of Central Florida Criminal Justice Studies Report

#5

The University of West Florida

Pensacola, Florida

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of West Florida. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid. UWF is located in Pensacola, Florida and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 12 masters’s criminal justice studies degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UWF are $24,894, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UWF Criminal Justice Studies Report

Florida International University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Florida International University is a large school located in Miami, Florida that handed out 27 masters’s criminal justice studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Florida International University are $24,211.

Full FIU Criminal Justice Studies Report

#7

Columbus State University

Columbus, Georgia
#24 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, Columbus State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. CSU is a medium-sized school located in Columbus, Georgia that handed out 58 masters’s criminal justice studies degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree criminal justice studies students with aid list, CSU has also earned the #24 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Columbus State University are $13,264, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full CSU Criminal Justice Studies Report

#8

Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida
#7 in overall quality

Florida State University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Tallahassee, Florida, and it awarded 89 masters’s criminal justice studies degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree criminal justice studies students with aid list, Florida State has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Florida State are $26,707.

Read full report on Criminal Justice Studies at Florida State

California State University - Stanislaus came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Turlock, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s criminal justice studies degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Stanislaus are $18,540.

Read full report on Criminal Justice Studies at Stan State

#10

University of Wisconsin - Platteville

Platteville, Wisconsin
#20 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Platteville landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Platteville, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school handed out 39 diplomas to qualified masters’s criminal justice studies students in 2019-2020.

UW - Platteville also took the #20 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Platteville are $18,226, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Criminal Justice Studies at UW - Platteville

#11

California State University - San Bernardino

San Bernardino, California

California State University - San Bernardino came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in San Bernardino, California, this fairly large public school awarded 9 degrees to qualified masters’s criminal justice studies students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - San Bernardino are $17,936, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Criminal Justice Studies at California State University - San Bernardino

#12

Governors State University

University Park, Illinois

Governors State University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. University Park, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s criminal justice studies degrees to 6 students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at GSU are $14,674.

Read more about Criminal Justice Studies at GSU

With a ranking of #13, University of Houston - Downtown did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. University of Houston - Downtown is a public institution located in Houston, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 22 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Houston - Downtown are $15,739.

Full UH Downtown Criminal Justice Studies Report

Top 25% in overall quality

University of Illinois at Chicago landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 9 masters’s criminal justice studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UIC are $27,036, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Criminal Justice Studies at UIC

#15

Sam Houston State University

Huntsville, Texas
#11 in overall quality

Sam Houston State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #15. Sam Houston State University is a public institution located in Huntsville, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 43 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree criminal justice studies students with aid list, SHSU has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Sam Houston State University are $15,704, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full SHSU Criminal Justice Studies Report

#16

McNeese State University

Lake Charles, Louisiana

McNeese State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #16. McNeese State University is a public institution located in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 26 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at McNeese State University are $16,386, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full McNeese State University Criminal Justice Studies Report

#17

Rhode Island College

Providence, Rhode Island

Rhode Island College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Providence, Rhode Island, and it awarded 3 masters’s criminal justice studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at RIC are $16,884, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Criminal Justice Studies at RIC

#17

Lamar University

Beaumont, Texas

With a ranking of #17, Lamar University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Lamar University is a public institution located in Beaumont, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 86 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Lamar University are $15,699, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Criminal Justice Studies at Lamar University

#19

Florida Gulf Coast University

Fort Myers, Florida

Florida Gulf Coast University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Florida Gulf Coast University is located in Fort Myers, Florida and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 masters’s criminal justice studies degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Florida Gulf Coast University are $31,216, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Florida Gulf Coast University Criminal Justice Studies Report

#20

University of North Florida

Jacksonville, Florida

University of North Florida did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #20. Jacksonville, Florida is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s criminal justice studies degrees to 26 students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UNF are $21,930.

Read full report on Criminal Justice Studies at UNF

#21

MSU Texas

Wichita Falls, Texas

MSU Texas did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #21. MSU Texas is located in Wichita Falls, Texas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 masters’s criminal justice studies degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at MSU Texas are $7,935, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Criminal Justice Studies at MSU Texas

University of Nevada - Las Vegas came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Las Vegas, Nevada is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s criminal justice studies degrees to 8 students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UNLV are $21,962.

Read full report on Criminal Justice Studies at University of Nevada - Las Vegas

#23

Fayetteville State University

Fayetteville, North Carolina

With a ranking of #23, Fayetteville State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Fayetteville, North Carolina, this medium-sized public school awarded 8 diplomas to qualified masters’s criminal justice studies students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Fayetteville State University are $16,830.

Read full report on Criminal Justice Studies at Fayetteville State University

The University of Texas at San Antonio ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Located in San Antonio, Texas, this large public school handed out 17 degrees to qualified masters’s criminal justice studies students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas at San Antonio are $25,807, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Criminal Justice Studies at The University of Texas at San Antonio

California State University - Sacramento ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. California State University - Sacramento is a public institution located in Sacramento, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 6 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Sacramento are $18,356, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Criminal Justice Studies at California State University - Sacramento

Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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