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Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Southeast Region

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2023 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Southeast Region

Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices

263 Colleges
$7,106 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$34,051 Avg Salary

Finding the Best Criminal Justice & Corrections School for You

In 2020-2021, 113,121 criminal justice and corrections students received a degree or certificate, making the major the #7 most popular in the country.

When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for students. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Or you may find the programs at a trade school to be a better alternative for you.

The Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Southeast Region ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 263 schools in the Southeast Region to see which programs offered the best value experiences for criminal justice students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.

This ranking is not just a list of inexpensive schools. We also consider each school's quality, since we believe a low-quality school may not be a 'bargain' at any price. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.

For nationwide and regional rankings, we use out-of-state tuition and fees in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.

2023 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Southeast Region

Check out the criminal justice programs at these schools if you want to get the best value for your educational dollar.

Top 25 Best Southeast Region Schools for Affordable Quality in Criminal Justice & Corrections

#1

Columbia Southern University

Orange Beach, AL

Our analysis found Columbia Southern University to be the best value school for criminal justice and corrections students who want to pursue a degree in the Southeast Region . Columbia Southern University is a large private for-profit school located in the fringe town of Orange Beach.

Columbia Southern University undergraduate students pay an average of $5,775 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that criminal justice majors at Columbia Southern University take out is $24,746.

On top of its placing in our value ranking, Columbia Southern University also did well on our Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Southeast Region list. It’s in the top 5% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.

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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend American Public University System. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Southeast Region list. American Military University is a very large private for-profit school located in the town of Charles Town.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at American Military University are $7,360 per year. The average amount in student loans that criminal justice majors at American Military University take out is $19,722.

American Military University excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 5% of all schools on our Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Southeast Region list.

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#3

Delgado Community College

New Orleans, LA
$4,079 Average Tuition & Fees

A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Delgado Community College is a great value for criminal justice and corrections students. Delgado Community College is a large public school located in the city of New Orleans.

Delgado Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,079 in tuition and fees each year. While working on their degree, criminal justice majors at Delgado Community College accumulate an average of around $30,425 in student debt.

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$5,526 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southern Crescent Technical College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Southeast Region list. Southern Crescent Technical College is a small public school located in the large suburb of Griffin.

Southern Crescent Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,526 in tuition and fees each year.

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$5,360 Average Tuition & Fees

Out of the 263 schools in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Itawamba Community College landed the # 5 spot on the list. ICC is a small public school located in the remote town of Fulton.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at ICC are $5,360 a year.

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#6

Georgia Military College

Milledgeville, GA
$6,390 Average Tuition & Fees

Georgia Military College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for criminal justice and corrections students. It came in at #6 on the list. Georgia Military College is a medium-sized public school located in the distant town of Milledgeville.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Georgia Military College are $6,390 per year. The average amount in student loans that criminal justice majors at Georgia Military College take out is $13,739.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Georgia Military College

$7,495 Average Tuition & Fees

University of North Carolina at Pembroke did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for criminal justice and corrections students. It came in at #7 on the list. UNC Pembroke is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Pembroke.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UNC Pembroke are $7,495 per year. Criminal Justice majors at UNC Pembroke take out an average of $27,000 in student loans while working on their egree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $87, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

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$5,632 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #8, Augusta Technical College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for criminal justice and corrections students. Located in the medium-sized city of Augusta, Augusta Technical College is a public college with a small student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Augusta Technical College are $5,632 per year.

Full Criminal Justice & Corrections at Augusta Technical College Report

$8,367 Average Tuition & Fees

Western Carolina University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Located in the town of Cullowhee, WCU is a public college with a large student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at WCU are $8,367 per year. While working on their degree, criminal justice majors at WCU accumulate an average of around $21,928 in student debt. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $195, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Criminal Justice & Corrections at Western Carolina University Report

#10

Baton Rouge Community College

Baton Rouge, LA
$4,221 Average Tuition & Fees

Baton Rouge Community College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. BRCC is a moderately-sized public school located in the medium-sized city of Baton Rouge.

BRCC undergraduate students pay an average of $4,221 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, criminal justice graduates from BRCC carry an average student debtload of $17,500.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Baton Rouge Community College

#11

North Georgia Technical College

Clarkesville, GA
$5,422 Average Tuition & Fees

North Georgia Technical College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in the rural area of Clarkesville, North Georgia Technical College is a public school with a small student population.

North Georgia Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,422 in tuition and fees each year.

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$10,748 Average Tuition & Fees

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Worldwide ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in the city of Daytona Beach, Embry-Riddle Worldwide is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population.

Embry-Riddle Worldwide undergraduate students pay an average of $10,748 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that criminal justice majors at Embry-Riddle Worldwide take out is $25,000.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Worldwide

$6,210 Average Tuition & Fees

Southern Arkansas University Tech ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Southeast Region list. SAU Tech is a fairly small public school located in the rural area of Camden.

SAU Tech undergraduate students pay an average of $6,210 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that criminal justice majors at SAU Tech take out is $9,902.

Full Criminal Justice & Corrections at Southern Arkansas University Tech Report

Herzing University - Atlanta came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Herzing University - Atlanta is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Atlanta.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Herzing University - Atlanta are $14,200 per year. On average, criminal justice graduates from Herzing University - Atlanta take out $25,850 in student loans while working on their degree.

Herzing University - Atlanta excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Southeast Region list.

Full Criminal Justice & Corrections at Herzing University - Atlanta Report

Herzing University - Kenner came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Located in the medium-sized city of Kenner, Herzing University - Kenner is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Herzing University - Kenner are $14,200 per year. On average, criminal justice graduates from Herzing University - Kenner take out $25,971 in student loans while working on their degree.

In addition to its great value ranking, Herzing University - Kenner is in the top 5% of all schools on our Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Southeast Region list.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Herzing University - Kenner

$4,265 Average Tuition & Fees

SOWELA Technical Community College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in the city of Lake Charles, SOWELA is a public school with a small student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at SOWELA are $4,265 per year.

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#17

Savannah Technical College

Savannah, GA
$5,442 Average Tuition & Fees

Savannah Technical College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Southeast Region list. Savannah Tech is a small public school located in the medium-sized city of Savannah.

Savannah Tech undergraduate students pay an average of $5,442 in tuition and fees each year. While working on their degree, criminal justice majors at Savannah Tech accumulate an average of around $12,000 in student debt.

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#18

Gwinnett Technical College

Lawrenceville, GA

Gwinnett Technical College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. GTC is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Lawrenceville.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at GTC are $5,636 a year. Criminal Justice majors at GTC take out an average of $16,833 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full Criminal Justice & Corrections at Gwinnett Technical College Report

$5,552 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #19, Wiregrass Georgia Technical College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for criminal justice and corrections students. Located in the suburb of Valdosta, Wiregrass Georgia Technical College is a public school with a small student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College are $5,552 per year.

Full Criminal Justice & Corrections at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College Report

Herzing University - Birmingham came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Located in the suburb of Birmingham, Herzing University - Birmingham is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

Herzing University - Birmingham undergraduate students pay an average of $14,200 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that criminal justice majors at Herzing University - Birmingham take out is $25,971.

Herzing University - Birmingham also claimed a spot on our Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Southeast Region list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category.

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$6,692 Average Tuition & Fees

South Georgia Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for criminal justice and corrections students. It came in at #21 on the list. Located in the rural area of Americus, South Georgia Technical College is a public college with a small student population.

South Georgia Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,692 in tuition and fees each year.

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#22

Elizabeth City State University

Elizabeth City, NC
$7,326 Average Tuition & Fees

Elizabeth City State University landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value criminal justice and corrections programs. Located in the distant town of Elizabeth City, ECSU is a public school with a small student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at ECSU are $7,326 per year. While working on their degree, criminal justice majors at ECSU accumulate an average of around $28,000 in student debt.

Read More…

#23

University of the Cumberlands

Williamsburg, KY
$9,875 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #23, University of the Cumberlands did quite well on this year’s best value schools for criminal justice and corrections students. Located in the remote town of Williamsburg, Cumberlands is a private not-for-profit college with a large student population.

Cumberlands undergraduate students pay an average of $9,875 in tuition and fees each year. On average, criminal justice graduates from Cumberlands take out $23,244 in student loans while working on their degree.

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

#24

Central Georgia Technical College

Warner Robins, GA
$5,442 Average Tuition & Fees

Central Georgia Technical College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Located in the city of Warner Robins, CGTC is a public school with a medium-sized student population.

CGTC undergraduate students pay an average of $5,442 in tuition and fees each year. Criminal Justice majors at CGTC take out an average of $16,188 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read More…

#25

Bossier Parish Community College

Bossier City, LA
$4,284 Average Tuition & Fees

Bossier Parish Community College ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Southeast Region list. Bossier Parish Community College is a medium-sized public school located in the small city of Bossier City.

Bossier Parish Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,284 in tuition and fees each year. While working on their degree, criminal justice majors at Bossier Parish Community College accumulate an average of around $23,394 in student debt.

Full Criminal Justice & Corrections at Bossier Parish Community College Report

Rest of the Top Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Southeast Region

#30

Pitt Community College

Winterville, NC
#32

Chipola College

Marianna, FL
#35

Greenville Technical College

Greenville, SC
#38

Nash Community College

Rocky Mount, NC
#39

Bethel University

McKenzie, TN

Additional Noteworthy Schools

Here are some additional great value schools for Criminal Justice & Corrections students in the Southeast Region seeking value that almost earned our Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Southeast Region award.

Rank College Location
40 St Petersburg College Clearwater, FL
41 Central Piedmont Community College Charlotte, NC
42 Seminole State College of Florida Sanford, FL
43 Surry Community College Dobson, NC
44 Florida State College at Jacksonville Jacksonville, FL
45 Valencia College Orlando, FL
46 Tallahassee Community College Tallahassee, FL
47 Rasmussen University - Florida Ocala, FL
48 Liberty University Lynchburg, VA
49 Florida Gateway College Lake City, FL
50 Charleston Southern University Charleston, SC
51 Indian River State College Fort Pierce, FL
52 Miami Dade College Miami, FL

Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Colleges by State

Explore the best criminal justice and corrections colleges for a specific state in the Southeast region.

State Degrees Awarded
Georgia 2,158
Virginia 2,948
North Carolina 2,702
Florida 4,869
Tennessee 1,212
Kentucky 1,015
South Carolina 993
Louisiana 972
Arkansas 665
Alabama 1,413
Mississippi 581
West Virginia 1,320

One of 4 majors within the area of study, criminal justice and corrections has other similar majors worth exploring.

Majors Similar to Criminal Justice

Related Major Annual Graduates
Fire Protection 13,766
Homeland Security 7,140
Security Science and Technology 6,888
Other Homeland Security 1,695

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 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 the rest 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.

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