2023 Best Value Colleges for Criminal Justice (Income $0-$30k) in California
27
Ranked Colleges
8,527
Degrees Awarded
$8,100
Avg Net Price*
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. 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 Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.
In 2020-2021, 32,891 people earned their degree in criminal justice, making the major the 27th most popular in the United States.
Across California, there were 8,527 criminal justice graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 27 colleges that offer a degree in criminal justice. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent criminal justice 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 program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
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. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Criminal Justice (Income $0-$30k) in California
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Golden West College. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k. Huntington Beach, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s criminal justice degrees to 159 students in 2020-2021.
Golden West College also made our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in California” list, coming in at #3. The yearly cost to attend Golden West College is $3,094 for california criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Criminal Justice at Golden West College
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Santa Rosa Junior College. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k. Santa Rosa Junior College is a public institution located in Santa Rosa, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 73 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our california criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k list, SRJC has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $5,728 for california criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Santa Rosa Junior College.
Full SRJC Criminal Justice Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Southwestern College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k. Southwestern College is a public institution located in Chula Vista, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 184 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
SWC Chula Vista did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for SWC Chula Vista is $4,197 for california criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Criminal Justice at Southwestern College
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Mt. San Antonio College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k. This large school is located in Walnut, California, and it awarded 112 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our california criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k list, Mt. SAC has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $2,412 for California Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Mt. San Antonio College.
Read more about Criminal Justice at Mt. SAC
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Fresno City College. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k. Fresno City College is a large school located in Fresno, California that handed out 151 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
Fresno City College also made our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in California” list, coming in at #10. It costs about $2,556 for California Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Fresno City College.
Read more about Criminal Justice at Fresno City College
Moreno Valley College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Moreno Valley College is a medium-sized school located in Moreno Valley, California that handed out 82 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
Moreno Valley College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Moreno Valley College is $4,761 for California Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Moreno Valley College Criminal Justice Report
College of the Sequoias ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. College of the Sequoias is a public institution located in Visalia, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 122 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our california criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k list, College of the Sequoias has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $501 for California Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend College of the Sequoias.
Full College of the Sequoias Criminal Justice Report
Ventura College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Ventura College is a public institution located in Ventura, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 170 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our california criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k list, Ventura College has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Ventura College is $321 for California Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Criminal Justice at Ventura College
With a ranking of #9, Sacramento City College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Sacramento City is a fairly large public school situated in Sacramento, California. It awarded 132 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
Sacramento City did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Sacramento City is $5,022 for california criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Criminal Justice at Sacramento City
With a ranking of #10, Santa Ana College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Santa Ana, California, and it awarded 80 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our california criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k list, SAC has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Santa Ana College is $3,975 for california criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Criminal Justice at SAC
San Diego Miramar College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #11. San Diego Miramar College is a public institution located in San Diego, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 123 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
San Diego Miramar College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in California” list. It costs about $4,199 for California Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend San Diego Miramar College.
Full San Diego Miramar College Criminal Justice Report
Riverside City College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Riverside City College is located in Riverside, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 142 ’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.
Riverside City College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend Riverside City College is $5,737 for California Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Criminal Justice at Riverside City College
East Los Angeles College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. East Los Angeles College is a large public school situated in Monterey Park, California. It awarded 489 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
East Los Angeles College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in California” list. It costs about $10,646 for California Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend East Los Angeles College.
Full East Los Angeles College Criminal Justice Report
Reedley College landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Reedley College is a public institution located in Reedley, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 76 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Reedley College is $4,843 for california criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Reedley College Criminal Justice Report
West Hills College-Lemoore landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. West Hills College-Lemoore is a small school located in Lemoore, California that handed out 56 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
West Hills College-Lemoore also took the #24 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $8,571 for california criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend West Hills College-Lemoore.
Read more about Criminal Justice at West Hills College-Lemoore
Antelope Valley College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Lancaster, California, and it awarded 140 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Antelope Valley College is $8,649 for California Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Criminal Justice at Antelope Valley College
El Camino College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #17. El Camino College is located in Torrance, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 112 ’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at El Camino College, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $10,288 for California Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend El Camino College.
Read more about Criminal Justice at El Camino College
Napa Valley College landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Napa, California, and it awarded 62 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
Napa Valley College also took the #11 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $12,524 for California Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Napa Valley College.
Read more about Criminal Justice at Napa Valley College
San Joaquin Delta College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Stockton, California, this fairly large public school handed out 103 degrees to qualified ’s criminal justice students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our california criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k list, Delta has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend San Joaquin Delta College is $14,087 for California Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Criminal Justice at San Joaquin Delta College
College of the Desert came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. College of the Desert is a fairly large school located in Palm Desert, California that handed out 94 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
College of the Desert also took the #22 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for College of the Desert is $12,016 for california criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full College of the Desert Criminal Justice Report
University of Phoenix - California came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Costa Mesa, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out ’s criminal justice degrees to 77 students in 2020-2021.
UOPX - California did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for UOPX - California is $11,703 for california criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Criminal Justice at University of Phoenix - California
Fresno Pacific University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Fresno Pacific is a small school located in Fresno, California that handed out 15 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our california criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k list, Fresno Pacific has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Fresno Pacific is $17,544 for California Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full Fresno Pacific University Criminal Justice Report
With a ranking of #24, West Hills College-Coalinga did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Coalinga, California, this small public school awarded 23 diplomas to qualified ’s criminal justice students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend West Hills College-Coalinga is $6,403 for California Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Criminal Justice at West Hills College-Coalinga
University of San Diego came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of San Diego is a private not-for-profit institution located in San Diego, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 131 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
USD did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend University of San Diego is $21,951 for California Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Criminal Justice at USD
