2023 Best Value Colleges for Criminal Justice in Pennsylvania (With Aid)
22
Ranked Colleges
945
Degrees Awarded
$20,400
Avg Net Price*
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid” ranking.
Criminal Justice is the 27th most popular major in the country with 32,891 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.
Across Pennsylvania, there were 945 criminal justice graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid” ranking analyzed 22 colleges that offered a degree 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.
One Size Does Not Fit All
The criminal justice 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 Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid”.
To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools 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 Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid.
Top 22 Best Value Colleges for Criminal Justice in Pennsylvania (With Aid)
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Lehigh Carbon Community College. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Schnecksville, Pennsylvania, this medium-sized public school handed out 14 diplomas to qualified ’s criminal justice students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at LCCC, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Lehigh Carbon Community College is $6,897 for pennsylvania criminal justice students with aid.
Read more about Criminal Justice at LCCC
Out of the 22 schools in the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Harrisburg Area Community College landed the #2 spot on the list. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s criminal justice degrees to 60 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our pennsylvania criminal justice students with aid list, HACC has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Harrisburg Area Community College is $11,608 for pennsylvania criminal justice students with aid.
Read more about Criminal Justice at HACC
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Pennsylvania Highlands Community College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid list. Pennsylvania Highlands is located in Johnstown, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 13 ’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.
Pennsylvania Highlands also made our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #21. The yearly cost to attend Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is $7,790 for Pennsylvania Criminal Justice students with aid.
Full Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Criminal Justice Report
Out of the 22 schools in the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Waynesburg University landed the #4 spot on the list. Waynesburg is a small school located in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania that handed out 36 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
Waynesburg also made our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #2. It costs about $19,925 for Pennsylvania Criminal Justice students with aid per year to attend Waynesburg University.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Criminal Justice at Waynesburg
Out of the 22 schools in the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Lock Haven University landed the #5 spot on the list. LHU is a small school located in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania that handed out 67 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
LHU also took the #5 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend LHU is $21,245 for pennsylvania criminal justice students with aid.
Read more about Criminal Justice at LHU
University of Pittsburgh - Greensburg ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid list. Pitt Greensburg is a public institution located in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 21 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Pitt Greensburg, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $16,369 for Pennsylvania Criminal Justice students with aid per year to attend University of Pittsburgh - Greensburg.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% 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%.
Full University of Pittsburgh - Greensburg Criminal Justice Report
York College of Pennsylvania landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid ranking. York College of Pennsylvania is located in York, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 52 ’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.
YCP not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The estimated yearly cost for YCP is $22,233 for pennsylvania criminal justice students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.4% 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 YCP Criminal Justice Report
University of Pittsburgh - Bradford ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid list. Pitt Bradford is a small public school situated in Bradford, Pennsylvania. It awarded 18 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
Pitt Bradford also took the #13 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $16,003 for Pennsylvania Criminal Justice students with aid per year to attend Pitt Bradford.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% 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%.
Full Pitt Bradford Criminal Justice Report
Mansfield University of Pennsylvania landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid ranking. Mansfield, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s criminal justice degrees to 29 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Mansfield University, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Mansfield University of Pennsylvania is $11,793 for Pennsylvania Criminal Justice students with aid.
Full Mansfield University of Pennsylvania Criminal Justice Report
Clarion University of Pennsylvania landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid ranking. Clarion, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s criminal justice degrees to 44 students in 2020-2021.
Clarion University also made our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #15. The yearly cost to attend Clarion University of Pennsylvania is $19,452 for Pennsylvania Criminal Justice students with aid.
Read full report on Criminal Justice at Clarion University
With a ranking of #11, Robert Morris University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid list. Robert Morris University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Moon Township, Pennsylvania. It awarded 25 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our pennsylvania criminal justice students with aid list, RMU has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $27,954 for Pennsylvania Criminal Justice students with aid per year to attend Robert Morris University.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% 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 RMU Criminal Justice Report
Mercyhurst University landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid ranking. Mercyhurst University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Erie, Pennsylvania. It awarded 11 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our pennsylvania criminal justice students with aid list, Mercyhurst has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Mercyhurst is $27,283 for pennsylvania criminal justice students with aid.
Read more about Criminal Justice at Mercyhurst
University of Pittsburgh - Johnstown did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #13. This small school is located in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 10 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
Pitt Johnstown also took the #18 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Pitt Johnstown is $17,457 for pennsylvania criminal justice students with aid.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Criminal Justice at University of Pittsburgh - Johnstown
Marywood University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid list. Marywood is a private not-for-profit institution located in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 12 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Marywood did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend Marywood University is $20,225 for pennsylvania criminal justice students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Criminal Justice at Marywood
Point Park University landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid ranking. This small school is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 8 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
Point Park also took the #12 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Point Park is $21,600 for pennsylvania criminal justice students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% 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 Point Park Criminal Justice Report
Strayer University - Pennsylvania landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid ranking. Trevose, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out ’s criminal justice degrees to 31 students in 2020-2021.
Strayer University - Pennsylvania also made our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #19. The yearly cost to attend Strayer University - Pennsylvania is $24,298 for pennsylvania criminal justice students with aid.
Read more about Criminal Justice at Strayer University - Pennsylvania
Alvernia University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid list. This small school is located in Reading, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 35 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
Alvernia did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The estimated yearly cost for Alvernia is $30,641 for pennsylvania criminal justice students with aid.
Read full report on Criminal Justice at Alvernia
Delaware Valley University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid list. Delaware Valley University is a small school located in Doylestown, Pennsylvania that handed out 24 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our pennsylvania criminal justice students with aid list, DelVal has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $28,221 for pennsylvania criminal justice students with aid per year to attend DelVal.
Read more about Criminal Justice at DelVal
Chestnut Hill College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid list. This small school is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 20 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
CHC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend Chestnut Hill College is $24,202 for Pennsylvania Criminal Justice students with aid.
Read more about Criminal Justice at Chestnut Hill College
Widener University landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid ranking. Chester, Pennsylvania is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s criminal justice degrees to 16 students in 2020-2021.
Widener also made our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #4. It costs about $31,792 for Pennsylvania Criminal Justice students with aid per year to attend Widener.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Criminal Justice at Widener University
Thiel College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid list. Thiel College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Greenville, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 8 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Thiel College, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Thiel College is $22,431 for pennsylvania criminal justice students with aid.
Read full report on Criminal Justice at Thiel College
South Hills School of Business & Technology did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #22. South Hills School of Business & Technology is a small private for-profit school situated in State College, Pennsylvania. It awarded 21 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our pennsylvania criminal justice students with aid list, South Hills School of Business & Technology has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend South Hills School of Business & Technology is $18,366 for Pennsylvania Criminal Justice students with aid.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Full South Hills School of Business & Technology Criminal Justice Report
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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
- *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.
