2026 Best Value Criminology Master’s Degree Schools
[Criminology](/majors/social-sciences/criminology/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong criminology education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 249 schools to find the best return on investment for criminology students.
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2026 Best Value Criminology Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in criminology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Criminology Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of California Irvine the best value for a degree in criminology in the United States. 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. Students borrow a median of $15,865 to complete the criminology program here. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from University Of California Irvine generally make around $61,062. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 29%.
A rank of #2 makes San Jose State University one of the best values for criminology. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,410, with out-of-state students paying around $21,010. Median earnings reach $78,988 ten years out. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes California State University Fresno one of the best values for criminology. Located in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,341 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,941. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $10,773. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from California State University Fresno generally make around $31,224. That is a strong return on a $10,773 median debt. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in criminology will find it at University Of South Florida Main Campus, which ranked #4. University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. Students from in state pay about $6,410 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Criminology graduates carry a median of $20,302 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from University Of South Florida Main Campus generally make around $37,108. That is a strong return on a $20,302 median debt. University Of South Florida Main Campus admits about 43% of applicants.
University Of Missouri St Louis is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminology, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, University Of Missouri St Louis is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,120, with out-of-state students paying around $37,620. Criminology graduates carry a median of $22,801 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from University Of Missouri St Louis generally make around $38,207. Set against $22,801 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Maryland College Park earned the #6 position for value in criminology this year. Located in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,809 in tuition and fees, compared with $41,186 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the criminology program here. Early-career criminology graduates make about $43,698. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Maryland College Park admits about 45% of applicants.
Texas A And M University Commerce earned the #7 position for value in criminology this year. Texas A And M University Commerce is a large public school located in the town of Commerce. In-state tuition and fees average $10,026, 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. That is a strong return on a $23,796 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.
East Carolina University came in at #8 for value in criminology this year. Set in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,361 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $23,638. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $24,747. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from East Carolina University generally make around $51,931. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
San Diego State University placed #9 among the best values for criminology. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,728, with out-of-state students paying around $21,328. Criminology graduates carry a median of $16,417 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from San Diego State University generally make around $51,162. That is a strong return on a $16,417 median debt. Roughly 36% of applicants are accepted.
Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Mayaguez ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value criminology schools. Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Mayaguez is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Mayaguez. In-state tuition and fees average $6,550. Students borrow a median of $12,250 to complete the criminology program here. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Mayaguez generally make around $16,199. That is a strong return on a $12,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Georgia Southern University earned the #11 position for value in criminology this year. Located in the town of Statesboro, Georgia Southern University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,022, while out-of-state students pay about $17,734. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $26,000. Criminology graduates of Georgia Southern University earn a median of $35,588 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Georgia Southern University admits about 88% of applicants.
University Of West Georgia came in at #12 for value in criminology this year. University Of West Georgia is a large public school located in the town of Carrollton. In-state tuition and fees average $6,088, with out-of-state students paying around $17,800. Criminology graduates carry a median of $28,500 in student loans. Early-career criminology graduates make about $33,839. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 52%.
Missouri State University Springfield earned the #13 position for value in criminology this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,502, with out-of-state students paying around $18,770. Criminology graduates carry a median of $24,187 in student loans. Early-career criminology graduates make about $41,747. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Niagara University landed the #14 spot for criminology value this year. Niagara University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Niagara University. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,345. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $27,000. Criminology graduates of Niagara University earn a median of $36,781 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value criminology schools. Set in the town of Indiana, Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,380, while out-of-state students pay about $16,297. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the criminology program here. Early-career criminology graduates make about $45,821. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Lindenwood University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value criminology schools. Lindenwood University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Charles. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,600. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $28,663. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Lindenwood University generally make around $47,448. Set against $28,663 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 57%.
University At Buffalo earned the #17 position for value in criminology this year. Located in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,936, with out-of-state students paying around $31,536. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $22,232. Early-career criminology graduates make about $52,403. Set against $22,232 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value criminology schools. Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the town of Bowling Green. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,912, compared with $21,900 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $25,449. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Bowling Green State University Main Campus generally make around $57,019. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Bowling Green State University Main Campus admits about 81% of applicants.
The University Of Alabama landed the #19 spot for criminology value this year. Set in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,180 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $34,172. Students borrow a median of $24,496 to complete the criminology program here. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from The University Of Alabama generally make around $50,740. Set against $24,496 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Alabama admits about 77% of applicants.
Regis University placed #20 among the best values for criminology. Regis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Denver. In-state tuition and fees average $28,140. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $39,337. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Regis University generally make around $48,522. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Regis University admits about 86% of applicants.
Loyola University New Orleans landed the #21 spot for criminology value this year. Loyola University New Orleans is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Orleans. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $49,440. Criminology graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career criminology graduates make about $35,578. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Loyola University New Orleans admits about 93% of applicants.
Cedar Crest College landed the #22 spot for criminology value this year. Set in the city of Allentown, Cedar Crest College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $46,314. Criminology graduates carry a median of $30,759 in student loans. Early-career criminology graduates make about $67,662. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Vincent College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value criminology schools. Set in the suburb of Latrobe, Saint Vincent College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,396. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the criminology program here. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Saint Vincent College generally make around $42,613. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 62%.
Lasell College landed the #24 spot for criminology value this year. Set in the city of Newton, Lasell College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $27,040 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the criminology program here. Criminology graduates of Lasell College earn a median of $137,372 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
St Johns University New York landed the #25 spot for criminology value this year. Set in the city of Queens, St Johns University New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $53,529. Criminology graduates carry a median of $25,521 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from St Johns University New York generally make around $35,868. Set against $25,521 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Rest of the Top 30 Best Value Criminology Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s criminology value ranking:
Other Criminology Degree Levels
Explore the best-value criminology schools at other degree levels:
View All Criminology Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 249 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 27 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
