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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice (With Aid)

115 Ranked Colleges
2,574 Degrees Awarded
$17,200 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master's For Those Getting Aid

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

Criminal Justice is the 32nd most popular major in the country with 33,568 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 2,574 criminal justice graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid” ranking looked at 115 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in criminal justice. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great criminal justice programs and 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Criminal Justice Schools

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 for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

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

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

Top 26 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice (With Aid)

#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend John Jay College of Criminal Justice. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. John Jay is a fairly large school located in New York, New York that handed out 131 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at John Jay, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at John Jay are $20,962, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full John Jay Criminal Justice Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Texas A & M University - Central Texas. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid. Texas A & M University - Central Texas is a public institution located in Killeen, Texas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 7 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 Texas A & M University - Central Texas are $13,561.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Texas A & M University - Central Texas

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Texas A&M International University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid. Texas A&M International University is a medium-sized school located in Laredo, Texas that handed out 23 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas A&M International University are $15,106, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Texas A&M International University

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Edinburg, Texas, this large public school awarded 11 diplomas to qualified masters’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley are $15,151, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at UT Rio Grande Valley

#5

Franklin University

Columbus, Ohio

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Franklin University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid. Franklin University is located in Columbus, Ohio and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 13 masters’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Franklin University are $16,080, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Franklin University

University of South Florida - Main Campus ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Tampa, Florida, and it awarded 32 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of South Florida - Main Campus are $21,126, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Criminal Justice at USF Tampa

#7 in overall quality

University of Phoenix - Arizona did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #7. University of Phoenix - Arizona is a large school located in Tempe, Arizona that handed out 148 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UOPX - Arizona, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Phoenix - Arizona are $17,096, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UOPX - Arizona Criminal Justice Report

#8

Monroe College

Bronx, New York

With a ranking of #8, Monroe College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Monroe College is a medium-sized private for-profit school situated in Bronx, New York. It awarded 33 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Monroe College are $17,170, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Monroe College

#9

Sam Houston State University

Huntsville, Texas
#6 in overall quality

Sam Houston State University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Huntsville, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s criminal justice degrees to 40 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree criminal justice students with aid list, SHSU has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at SHSU are $15,704.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Sam Houston State University

#10

Northeastern State University

Tahlequah, Oklahoma

Northeastern State University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, and it awarded 19 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Northeastern State University are $10,600.

Read more about Criminal Justice at NSU

#11

University of Massachusetts - Lowell

Lowell, Massachusetts
#1 in overall quality

University of Massachusetts - Lowell came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of Massachusetts - Lowell is located in Lowell, Massachusetts and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 97 masters’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

UMass Lowell not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Criminal Justice Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UMass Lowell are $26,990, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at UMass Lowell

#12

Ferris State University

Big Rapids, Michigan

Ferris State University landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Big Rapids, Michigan, this fairly large public school awarded 24 degrees to qualified masters’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Ferris are $7,908, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Ferris State University

With a ranking of #13, Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is a large public school situated in Indianapolis, Indiana. It awarded 20 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at IUPUI are $26,013, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

#14

Colorado State University - Global Campus

Greenwood Village, Colorado

Colorado State University - Global Campus came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Colorado State University - Global Campus is a fairly large school located in Greenwood Village, Colorado that handed out 33 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Colorado State University - Global Campus are $9,000.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Colorado State University - Global Campus

#15

Arizona State University - Skysong

Scottsdale, Arizona
#9 in overall quality

Arizona State University - Skysong landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Scottsdale, Arizona is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s criminal justice degrees to 200 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at ASU - Skysong, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at ASU - Skysong are $6,724.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at ASU - Skysong

#15

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota

Saint Cloud State University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota, and it awarded 4 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at St. Cloud State University are $12,904, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full St. Cloud State University Criminal Justice Report

#16

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan
#14 in overall quality

Michigan State University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Michigan State is a large public school situated in East Lansing, Michigan. It awarded 12 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Michigan State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Criminal Justice Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan State are $37,056, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Michigan State

#17

University of the Cumberlands

Williamsburg, Kentucky
#22 in overall quality

University of the Cumberlands ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Cumberlands is located in Williamsburg, Kentucky and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 43 masters’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

Cumberlands did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Criminal Justice Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Cumberlands are $4,582.

Full Cumberlands Criminal Justice Report

#18

Miami University - Middletown

Middletown, Ohio

Miami University - Middletown did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #18. Miami University - Middletown is a small school located in Middletown, Ohio that handed out 1 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Miami University - Middletown not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #0 on our “Best Criminal Justice Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Miami University - Middletown are $16,484, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Miami University - Middletown

#19

Concordia University, Saint Paul

Saint Paul, Minnesota

Concordia University, Saint Paul did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #19. Concordia University, Saint Paul is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It awarded 21 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Concordia University, Saint Paul are $8,550, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Concordia University, Saint Paul

#20

Middle Tennessee State University

Murfreesboro, Tennessee

With a ranking of #20, Middle Tennessee State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Middle Tennessee State University is a large public school situated in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. It awarded 13 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Middle Tennessee State University are $26,172, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Middle Tennessee State University

#21

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois
#16 in overall quality

Western Illinois University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #21. WIU is a medium-sized public school situated in Macomb, Illinois. It awarded 49 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at WIU, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at WIU are $11,996.

Read more about Criminal Justice at WIU

#22

Wilmington University

New Castle, Delaware

Wilmington University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in New Castle, Delaware, and it awarded 23 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Wilmington University are $8,834, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Wilmington University

#23

Texas State University

San Marcos, Texas

Texas State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #23. Texas State is a large school located in San Marcos, Texas that handed out 17 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas State University are $17,040, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Texas State University Criminal Justice Report

#24

University of North Georgia

Dahlonega, Georgia

With a ranking of #24, University of North Georgia did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. University of North Georgia is a fairly large public school situated in Dahlonega, Georgia. It awarded 7 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UNG are $18,354, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Criminal Justice at University of North Georgia

#25

George Mason University

Fairfax, Virginia
#5 in overall quality

With a ranking of #25, George Mason University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. George Mason University is located in Fairfax, Virginia and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 masters’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at GMU, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at GMU are $37,410, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Criminal Justice at George Mason University

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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