2026 Best Value Criminology Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in criminology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Criminology Schools
Our analysis ranked Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice the best value for a degree in criminology in the Middle Atlantic Region. Located in the city of New York, Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,470, while out-of-state students pay about $15,420. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the criminology program here. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice generally make around $33,798. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in criminology will find it at University Of Maryland College Park, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,809, while out-of-state students pay about $41,186. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the criminology program here. Criminology graduates of University Of Maryland College Park earn a median of $43,698 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Suny College At Old Westbury one of the best values for criminology. Suny College At Old Westbury is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Old Westbury. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,372, compared with $18,842 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $17,800. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Suny College At Old Westbury generally make around $38,764. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 84%.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Delaware one of the best values for criminology. Located in the suburb of Newark, University Of Delaware is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $16,810 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $41,400. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $23,685. Criminology graduates of University Of Delaware earn a median of $35,968 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Delaware admits about 71% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in criminology will find it at Suny College Of Technology At Canton, which ranked #5. Suny College Of Technology At Canton is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Canton. In-state tuition and fees average $8,742, while out-of-state students pay about $15,769. Students borrow a median of $23,640 to complete the criminology program here. Early-career criminology graduates make about $46,515. That is a strong return on a $23,640 median debt. Suny College Of Technology At Canton admits about 92% of applicants.
Niagara University earned the #6 position for value in criminology this year. Located in the suburb of Niagara University, Niagara University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,345. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the criminology program here. Early-career criminology graduates make about $36,781. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus placed #7 among the best values for criminology. Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus is a large public school located in the town of Indiana. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,380, with out-of-state students paying around $16,297. Criminology graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career criminology graduates make about $41,866. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus admits about 91% of applicants.
Pennsylvania Western University earned the #8 position for value in criminology this year. Located in the town of California, Pennsylvania Western University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,436 in tuition and fees, compared with $16,054 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $47,295 ten years out. Pennsylvania Western University admits about 94% of applicants.
Delaware State University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value criminology schools. Located in the city of Dover, Delaware State University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,670, compared with $20,634 for out-of-state students. Criminology graduates carry a median of $26,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Delaware State University generally make around $30,710. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Delaware State University admits about 47% of applicants.
Suny College At Cortland ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value criminology schools. Located in the town of Cortland, Suny College At Cortland is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,874, with out-of-state students paying around $18,784. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the criminology program here. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Suny College At Cortland generally make around $34,768. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Suny College At Cortland admits about 60% of applicants.
Lycoming College placed #11 among the best values for criminology. Lycoming College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Williamsport. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,804. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Lycoming College generally make around $40,646. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 74%.
University At Buffalo placed #12 among the best values for criminology. Set in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,936, while out-of-state students pay about $31,536. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $22,232. Early-career criminology graduates make about $52,403. That is a strong return on a $22,232 median debt. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania placed #13 among the best values for criminology. Located in the town of Slippery Rock, Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,568, while out-of-state students pay about $14,676. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $25,990. Criminology graduates of Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $36,276 early in their careers. Set against $25,990 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania admits about 72% of applicants.
Le Moyne College placed #14 among the best values for criminology. Located in the suburb of Syracuse, Le Moyne College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,330. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the criminology program here. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Le Moyne College generally make around $57,229. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Vincent College landed the #15 spot for criminology value this year. Located in the suburb of Latrobe, Saint Vincent College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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 $40,088. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Saint Vincent College admits about 62% of applicants.
Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham landed the #16 spot for criminology value this year. Set in the suburb of Madison, Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,468. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the criminology program here. Early-career criminology graduates make about $37,619. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Cedar Crest College placed #17 among the best values for criminology. Located in the city of Allentown, Cedar Crest College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $46,314. Criminology graduates carry a median of $30,759 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Cedar Crest College generally make around $67,662. Set against $30,759 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Mount St Marys University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value criminology schools. Mount St Marys University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Emmitsburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $48,630. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the criminology program here. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Mount St Marys University generally make around $43,230. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Arcadia University placed #19 among the best values for criminology. Arcadia University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Glenside. In-state tuition and fees average $49,610. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the criminology program here. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Arcadia University generally make around $33,823. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Wilkes University placed #20 among the best values for criminology. Wilkes University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Wilkes-Barre. Students from in state pay about $43,496 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,601 to complete the criminology program here. Early-career criminology graduates make about $64,004. That is a strong return on a $26,601 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
St Johns University New York landed the #21 spot for criminology value this year. Located in the city of Queens, St Johns University New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $53,529. Students borrow a median of $25,521 to complete the criminology program here. Early-career criminology graduates make about $35,868. Set against $25,521 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. St Johns University New York admits about 83% of applicants.
Saint Bonaventure University came in at #22 for value in criminology this year. Located in the town of Saint Bonaventure, Saint Bonaventure University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,735. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $25,917. Early-career criminology graduates make about $43,190. That is a strong return on a $25,917 median debt. Saint Bonaventure University admits about 82% of applicants.
Lebanon Valley College came in at #23 for value in criminology this year. Lebanon Valley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Annville. In-state tuition and fees average $52,080. Criminology graduates carry a median of $26,767 in student loans. Criminology graduates of Lebanon Valley College earn a median of $38,828 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,767 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Saint John Fisher College earned the #24 position for value in criminology this year. Saint John Fisher College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Rochester. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,190. Criminology graduates carry a median of $24,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Saint John Fisher College generally make around $33,623. Set against $24,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Pennsylvania landed the #25 spot for criminology value this year. University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Students from in state pay about $68,686 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $16,155. Criminology graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $99,682 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,155 median debt. University Of Pennsylvania admits about 5% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 31 Best Value Criminology Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for criminology this year:
Narrow Criminology Schools by State
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 48 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 28 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.
[Criminology](/majors/social-sciences/criminology/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
