[Criminology](/majors/social-sciences/criminology/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 160 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value criminology schools.
Where you study criminology affects both what you pay and what you earn. That is why we developed our Best Value Criminology Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value Criminology Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
For return on investment in criminology, no school beat University Of Florida this year. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,381, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the criminology program here. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $35,096. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminology, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of New York, Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,470 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,420. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the criminology program here. Early-career criminology graduates make about $33,798. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Florida Online one of the best values for criminology. University Of Florida Online is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Gainesville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,876, with out-of-state students paying around $16,579. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the criminology program here. Early-career criminology graduates make about $35,096. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes California State University San Marcos one of the best values for criminology. Set in the suburb of San Marcos, California State University San Marcos is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,082 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,682. Criminology graduates carry a median of $14,810 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from California State University San Marcos generally make around $34,694. Set against $14,810 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Students looking for strong value in criminology will find it at University Of South Florida Main Campus, which ranked #5. University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. In-state tuition and fees average $6,410, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Criminology graduates carry a median of $20,302 in student loans. Early-career criminology graduates make about $37,108. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of South Florida Main Campus admits about 43% of applicants.
California State University Fresno earned the #6 position for value in criminology this year. Located in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,341, compared with $19,941 for out-of-state students. Criminology graduates carry a median of $10,773 in student loans. Criminology graduates of California State University Fresno earn a median of $31,224 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Portland State University came in at #7 for value in criminology this year. Portland State University is a very large public school located in the city of Portland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,118, compared with $29,136 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $26,475. Criminology graduates of Portland State University earn a median of $47,717 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,475 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
California State Polytechnic University Pomona landed the #8 spot for criminology value this year. Located in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,781, with out-of-state students paying around $20,381. Students borrow a median of $17,226 to complete the criminology program here. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from California State Polytechnic University Pomona generally make around $49,427. That is a strong return on a $17,226 median debt. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Paris Junior College placed #9 among the best values for criminology. Located in the town of Paris, Paris Junior College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,700, compared with $5,700 for out-of-state students. Criminology graduates carry a median of $8,846 in student loans. Criminology graduates of Paris Junior College earn a median of $38,811 early in their careers. Set against $8,846 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central New Mexico Community College earned the #10 position for value in criminology this year. Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Albuquerque. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,060, while out-of-state students pay about $8,684. Criminology graduates carry a median of $10,112 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Central New Mexico Community College generally make around $28,987. Set against $10,112 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Suny College At Old Westbury placed #11 among the best values for criminology. Located in the suburb of Old Westbury, Suny College At Old Westbury is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,372, compared with $18,842 for out-of-state students. Criminology graduates carry a median of $17,800 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Suny College At Old Westbury generally make around $38,764. Set against $17,800 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Suny College At Old Westbury admits about 84% of applicants.
University Of California Irvine placed #12 among the best values for criminology. Located in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,752 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $46,640. Criminology graduates carry a median of $15,865 in student loans. Early-career criminology graduates make about $47,792. That is a strong return on a $15,865 median debt. Roughly 29% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Michigan Dearborn landed the #13 spot for criminology value this year. University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Dearborn. In-state tuition and fees average $15,640, with out-of-state students paying around $32,896. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $26,516. Criminology graduates of University Of Michigan Dearborn earn a median of $62,536 early in their careers. Set against $26,516 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
Capital Community College came in at #14 for value in criminology this year. Capital Community College is a very large public school located in the city of New Britain. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,338, while out-of-state students pay about $15,596. Criminology graduates carry a median of $12,059 in student loans. Early-career criminology graduates make about $43,086. That is a strong return on a $12,059 median debt.
Texas A And M University San Antonio landed the #15 spot for criminology value this year. Located in the city of San Antonio, Texas A And M University San Antonio is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,654, with out-of-state students paying around $23,255. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $22,771. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Texas A And M University San Antonio generally make around $45,681. That is a strong return on a $22,771 median debt. Texas A And M University San Antonio admits about 93% of applicants.
University Of Missouri Kansas City ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value criminology schools. Located in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,371, with out-of-state students paying around $32,271. Students borrow a median of $23,741 to complete the criminology program here. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from University Of Missouri Kansas City generally make around $60,324. Set against $23,741 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Westmoreland County Community College earned the #17 position for value in criminology this year. Westmoreland County Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Youngwood. In-state tuition and fees average $6,306, while out-of-state students pay about $14,728. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $11,000. Graduates go on to earn a median of $37,439 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt.
Fresno Pacific University landed the #18 spot for criminology value this year. Set in the city of Fresno, Fresno Pacific University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $36,660. Students borrow a median of $24,596 to complete the criminology program here. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Fresno Pacific University generally make around $60,890. Set against $24,596 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 64%.
National Louis University earned the #19 position for value in criminology this year. Located in the city of Chicago, National Louis University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,245. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $23,437. Early-career criminology graduates make about $30,170. That is a strong return on a $23,437 median debt. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Indiana State University ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value criminology schools. Located in the city of Terre Haute, Indiana State University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,258, compared with $22,322 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $24,970. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Indiana State University generally make around $44,201. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Colorado State University Pueblo earned the #21 position for value in criminology this year. Set in the city of Pueblo, Colorado State University Pueblo is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,720 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,944. Criminology graduates carry a median of $25,325 in student loans. Criminology graduates of Colorado State University Pueblo earn a median of $49,098 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Colorado State University Pueblo admits about 95% of applicants.
Eastern Washington University landed the #22 spot for criminology value this year. Set in the town of Cheney, Eastern Washington University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,586, while out-of-state students pay about $26,583. Students borrow a median of $19,295 to complete the criminology program here. Early-career criminology graduates make about $40,228. That is a strong return on a $19,295 median debt. Eastern Washington University admits about 91% of applicants.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #23 spot for criminology value this year. Set in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,334 in tuition and fees. Criminology graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Carbondale generally make around $37,645. Set against $24,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Texas A And M University Commerce earned the #24 position for value in criminology this year. Set in the town of Commerce, Texas A And M University Commerce is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,026 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,326 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,796 to complete the criminology program here. Criminology graduates of Texas A And M University Commerce earn a median of $62,820 early in their careers. Set against $23,796 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Texas A And M University Commerce admits about 92% of applicants.
University Of Southern Maine landed the #25 spot for criminology value this year. Set in the city of Portland, University Of Southern Maine is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,090, while out-of-state students pay about $29,940. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $23,565. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from University Of Southern Maine generally make around $47,726. That is a strong return on a $23,565 median debt. University Of Southern Maine admits about 79% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Criminology Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for criminology this year:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 160 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 160 ranked schools only.
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).
[Criminology](/majors/social-sciences/criminology/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
