2026 Best Value Criminology Schools in the Southeast Region
[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.
College Factual analyzed 47 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value criminology schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Criminology Schools in the Southeast Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the criminology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Criminology Schools
University Of Florida earned the #1 spot for value among criminology schools in the Southeast Region. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,381, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. Criminology graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Early-career criminology graduates make about $35,096. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 24%.
University Of Florida Online is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminology, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida Online is a moderately-sized public institution. 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. Criminology graduates of University Of Florida Online earn a median of $35,096 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 61%.
University Of South Florida Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminology, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,410, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Students borrow a median of $20,302 to complete the criminology program here. 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 North Carolina At Charlotte is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminology, landing the #4 spot this year. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. Students from in state pay about $7,239 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,492 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,673 to complete the criminology program here. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Charlotte generally make around $51,799. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at West Virginia University earned it the #5 place for criminology. Set in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,104 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,608. Criminology graduates carry a median of $23,772 in student loans. Criminology graduates of West Virginia University earn a median of $51,750 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Old Dominion University placed #6 among the best values for criminology. Old Dominion University is a very large public school located in the city of Norfolk. Students from in state pay about $12,750 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $33,780. Criminology graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career criminology graduates make about $37,255. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Western Kentucky University came in at #7 for value in criminology this year. Western Kentucky University is a large public school located in the city of Bowling Green. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,652, compared with $27,000 for out-of-state students. Criminology graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Western Kentucky University generally make around $32,370. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Arkansas State University Main Campus ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value criminology schools. Set in the city of Jonesboro, Arkansas State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,090, while out-of-state students pay about $14,522. Students borrow a median of $27,875 to complete the criminology program here. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Arkansas State University Main Campus generally make around $36,732. That is a strong return on a $27,875 median debt. Arkansas State University Main Campus admits about 82% of applicants.
Mississippi State University came in at #9 for value in criminology this year. Set in the town of Mississippi State, Mississippi State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,202, while out-of-state students pay about $27,637. Criminology graduates carry a median of $23,356 in student loans. Criminology graduates of Mississippi State University earn a median of $33,191 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,356 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Lander University came in at #10 for value in criminology this year. Lander University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Greenwood. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,700, compared with $21,300 for out-of-state students. Criminology graduates carry a median of $26,064 in student loans. Early-career criminology graduates make about $37,548. That is a strong return on a $26,064 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
East Carolina University came in at #11 for value in criminology this year. Located in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,361, while out-of-state students pay about $23,638. Criminology graduates carry a median of $24,747 in student loans. 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.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value criminology schools. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,799, compared with $32,847 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,875 to complete the criminology program here. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh generally make around $35,076. Set against $21,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Central Arkansas earned the #13 position for value in criminology this year. Located in the city of Conway, University Of Central Arkansas is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,523, while out-of-state students pay about $18,023. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $20,078. Criminology graduates of University Of Central Arkansas earn a median of $38,453 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of West Georgia placed #14 among the best values for criminology. Located in the town of Carrollton, University Of West Georgia is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,088, compared with $17,800 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $28,500. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from University Of West Georgia generally make around $33,839. That is a strong return on a $28,500 median debt. University Of West Georgia admits about 52% of applicants.
Georgia Southern University landed the #15 spot for criminology value this year. Set in the town of Statesboro, Georgia Southern University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,022 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,734. Criminology graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. 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. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Mary Baldwin College placed #16 among the best values for criminology. Set in the city of Staunton, Mary Baldwin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $21,187 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $29,562. Early-career criminology graduates make about $60,386. Set against $29,562 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington earned the #17 position for value in criminology this year. Set in the city of Wilmington, University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,277, while out-of-state students pay about $24,152. Students borrow a median of $22,915 to complete the criminology program here. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Wilmington generally make around $34,443. Set against $22,915 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 64%.
Davis And Elkins College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value criminology schools. Located in the town of Elkins, Davis And Elkins College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $31,820. Students borrow a median of $26,250 to complete the criminology program here. Early-career criminology graduates make about $71,201. Set against $26,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Coker College landed the #19 spot for criminology value this year. Located in the town of Hartsville, Coker College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $33,416. Criminology graduates carry a median of $30,000 in student loans. Criminology graduates of Coker College earn a median of $25,862 early in their careers. Set against $30,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Lynchburg College earned the #20 position for value in criminology this year. Lynchburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $36,750. Criminology graduates of Lynchburg College earn a median of $107,159 early in their careers. The acceptance rate is 43%.
Virginia Union University placed #21 among the best values for criminology. Virginia Union University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Richmond. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,830. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $31,450. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Virginia Union University generally make around $30,291. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Clemson University placed #22 among the best values for criminology. Clemson University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Clemson. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,554, while out-of-state students pay about $40,866. Criminology graduates carry a median of $22,375 in student loans. Early-career criminology graduates make about $38,057. Set against $22,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 38%.
Johnson C Smith University earned the #23 position for value in criminology this year. Set in the city of Charlotte, Johnson C Smith University is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,300. Students borrow a median of $32,047 to complete the criminology program here. Criminology graduates of Johnson C Smith University earn a median of $32,751 early in their careers. Set against $32,047 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Johnson C Smith University admits about 45% of applicants.
The University Of Alabama landed the #24 spot for criminology value this year. The University Of Alabama is a very large public school located in the city of Tuscaloosa. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,180, compared with $34,172 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $24,496. Criminology graduates of The University Of Alabama earn a median of $50,740 early in their careers. Set against $24,496 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Alabama admits about 77% of applicants.
Peace College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best value criminology schools. Peace College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Raleigh. Students from in state pay about $34,176 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the criminology program here. Early-career criminology graduates make about $41,509. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 33 Best Value Criminology Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s criminology value ranking:
Narrow Criminology Schools by State
More Criminology Rankings
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 · 47 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.
