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2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k

82 Ranked Colleges
2,139 Degrees Awarded
$21,100 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master's in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. 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 for a Master’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

With 113,581 degrees handed out in 2019-2020, criminal justice and corrections is the 6th most popular major in the United States. In 2017-2018, criminal justice and corrections graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $31,952 and had an average of $24,936 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Southeast region, there were 30,292 criminal justice and corrections graduates with average earnings and debt of $31,510 and $28,027 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 2,139 criminal justice and corrections graduates with average earnings and debt of $53,950 and $43,286 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 82 colleges that offered a degree in criminal justice and corrections. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent criminal justice and corrections programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the criminal justice and corrections program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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 for a Master’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k” 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 for a Master’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The colleges and universities below are the best for southeast region master’s degree criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice & Corrections (Income $30-$48k) in the Southeast Region

#1

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 #1 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k. UWF is a fairly large public school situated in Pensacola, Florida. It awarded 12 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UWF are $24,894, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full The University of West Florida Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Central Florida. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Central Florida is a public institution located in Orlando, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 88 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UCF also made our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #4. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Central Florida are $28,657, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UCF Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#3

Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Florida State University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Tallahassee, Florida, and it awarded 89 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Florida State, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Florida State are $26,707, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Florida State University

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Florida International University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k. FIU is a public institution located in Miami, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 27 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

FIU also made our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #17. Average graduate tuition and fees at Florida International University are $24,211, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full FIU Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of South Florida - Main Campus. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of South Florida - Main Campus is located in Tampa, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 32 masters’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at USF Tampa are $21,126.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at USF Tampa

#6

University of North Florida

Jacksonville, Florida

University of North Florida landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UNF is located in Jacksonville, Florida and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 26 masters’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of North Florida are $21,930, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at UNF

#7

American Public University System

Charles Town, West Virginia

American Public University System ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Charles Town, West Virginia, this large private for-profit school awarded 121 diplomas to qualified masters’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

American Military University also made our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #1. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at American Military University are $7,050.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at American Military University

#8

Columbus State University

Columbus, Georgia

Columbus State University landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Columbus, Georgia is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s criminal justice degrees to 58 students in 2019-2020.

CSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Columbus State University are $13,264, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Columbus State University

#9

Florida Gulf Coast University

Fort Myers, Florida

Florida Gulf Coast University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. FGCU is a public institution located in Fort Myers, Florida. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 4 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Florida Gulf Coast University are $31,216, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Florida Gulf Coast University Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#10

Marshall University

Huntington, West Virginia

Marshall University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Marshall University is a public institution located in Huntington, West Virginia. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 9 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Marshall University are $21,162, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Marshall University Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#11

McNeese State University

Lake Charles, Louisiana

McNeese State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #11. McNeese is a medium-sized school located in Lake Charles, Louisiana that handed out 26 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at McNeese are $16,386, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full McNeese Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#12

University of Mississippi

University, Mississippi

University of Mississippi ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Mississippi is a public institution located in University, Mississippi. The school has a large population, and it awarded 19 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Ole Miss also made our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #22. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Mississippi are $25,099.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at University of Mississippi

#13

Florida Atlantic University

Boca Raton, Florida

Florida Atlantic University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Florida Atlantic University is a large school located in Boca Raton, Florida that handed out 14 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Florida Atlantic University are $18,482, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at FAU

#14

University of North Georgia

Dahlonega, Georgia

University of North Georgia did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #14. UNG is a fairly large school located in Dahlonega, Georgia that handed out 7 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of North Georgia are $18,354, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UNG Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#15

Fayetteville State University

Fayetteville, North Carolina

Fayetteville State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #15. Fayetteville State University is a medium-sized school located in Fayetteville, North Carolina that handed out 8 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Fayetteville State University are $16,830, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Fayetteville State University

University of Louisiana at Monroe did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #16. University of Louisiana at Monroe is a public institution located in Monroe, Louisiana. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 12 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at ULM are $21,410, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at ULM

#17

University of the Cumberlands

Williamsburg, Kentucky

University of the Cumberlands came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of the Cumberlands is a fairly large school located in Williamsburg, Kentucky that handed out 43 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Cumberlands did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Cumberlands are $4,582.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at University of the Cumberlands

#18

Middle Tennessee State University

Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Middle Tennessee State University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, this large public school handed out 13 diplomas to qualified masters’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Middle Tennessee State University are $26,172.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Middle Tennessee State University

#19

University of Louisville

Louisville, Kentucky

With a ranking of #19, University of Louisville did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UofL is located in Louisville, Kentucky and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 27 masters’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

UofL did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UofL are $27,575.

Full UofL Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#20

George Mason University

Fairfax, Virginia
#3 in overall quality

George Mason University landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Fairfax, Virginia, and it awarded 26 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

GMU also made our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #3. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at GMU are $37,410.

Full George Mason University Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UT Chattanooga is a fairly large public school situated in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It awarded 9 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UT Chattanooga are $18,334, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga

#22

East Carolina University

Greenville, North Carolina
#23 in overall quality

East Carolina University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Greenville, North Carolina, this large public school handed out 22 diplomas to qualified masters’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

ECU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at ECU are $20,685.

Full ECU Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#23

Mississippi College

Clinton, Mississippi
#6 in overall quality

Mississippi College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This small school is located in Clinton, Mississippi, and it awarded 13 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at MC, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at MC are $12,322.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at MC

#24

Radford University

Radford, Virginia

Radford University landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Radford is a fairly large school located in Radford, Virginia that handed out 3 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 Radford are $21,382.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Radford University

#25

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Charlotte, North Carolina

With a ranking of #25, University of North Carolina at Charlotte did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Charlotte, North Carolina, and it awarded 2 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southeast region master’s degree criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k list, UNC Charlotte has also earned the #0 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of North Carolina at Charlotte are $21,055, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at University of North Carolina at Charlotte

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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

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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