2026 Best Value Criminology Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Criminology graduate certificate degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 249 colleges by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
So you can compare your options, Course Advisor evaluated schools to build this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Criminology Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
Saint Josephs University earned the #1 spot in this year's best-value ranking in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Philadelphia, PA. In-state tuition and fees average $53,260. Saint Josephs University Criminology students take on a median of $25,000 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $86,881 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Saint Josephs University has an acceptance rate of 89%. More on Saint Josephs University
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte came in at #3 on this year's best-value Criminology ranking in the United States. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a public school based in Charlotte, NC. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,239, compared with $22,492 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $24,673 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $57,289 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $24,673 median debt. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte admits about 80% of applicants. See the full University Of North Carolina At Charlotte profile
University Of Utah came in at #5 on this year's best-value Criminology ranking in the United States. Set in Salt Lake City, UT, University Of Utah is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,620, while out-of-state students pay about $30,860. University Of Utah Criminology students take on a median of $20,798 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $67,170. That is a strong return on a $20,798 median debt. University Of Utah has an acceptance rate of 86%. Read the full report on University Of Utah
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus placed #6 among the best-value Criminology schools in the United States. This public school is set in Cincinnati, OH. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,363, while out-of-state students pay about $28,697. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus Criminology students take on a median of $23,530 in debt. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus alumni report median earnings of $54,810 a decade after entry. Set against $23,530 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%. Get the full University Of Cincinnati Main Campus report
A rank of #5 makes Marquette University one of the best values in the United States. Read the full report on Marquette University
Emmanuel College Massachusetts landed the #6 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Emmanuel College Massachusetts
Manchester College offered strong value this year, earning the #7 position. Read the full report on Manchester College
Suny College At Cortland landed the #8 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Suny College At Cortland profile
Texas A And M University Commerce offered strong value this year, earning the #9 position. See the full Texas A And M University Commerce profile
North Carolina State University At Raleigh placed #10 among the best-value Criminology schools in the United States. See the full North Carolina State University At Raleigh profile
Rosemont College
Rosemont College landed the #11 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Rosemont College report
University Of Iowa offered strong value this year, earning the #12 position. More on University Of Iowa
University Of Wisconsin River Falls ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best-value Criminology schools. Read more about University Of Wisconsin River Falls
University Of Wisconsin Stout placed #14 among the best-value Criminology schools in the United States. See the full University Of Wisconsin Stout profile
Alliant International University came in at #15 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Alliant International University report
Grambling State University placed #16 among the best-value Criminology schools in the United States. Read more about Grambling State University
University Of Wisconsin Madison landed the #17 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of Wisconsin Madison
Baker University
Baker University landed the #18 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Baker University
Concordia University Chicago ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best-value Criminology schools. Read more about Concordia University Chicago
Concordia University Texas ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best-value Criminology schools. More on Concordia University Texas
Dominican University Of California ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best-value Criminology schools. Read the full report on Dominican University Of California
Eastern Washington University landed the #22 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Eastern Washington University
Lander University landed the #23 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Lander University profile
Mary Baldwin College landed the #24 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Mary Baldwin College
University Of Hartford came in at #25 in this year's value ranking. See the full University Of Hartford profile
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Criminology Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
Immaculata University came in at #26 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Immaculata University
Utah State University landed the #27 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Utah State University
Hiram College
Hiram College placed #28 among the best-value Criminology schools in the United States. Read more about Hiram College
San Jose State University offered strong value this year, earning the #29 position. More on San Jose State University
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus landed the #30 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Southern Arkansas University Main Campus
The University Of Tampa offered strong value this year, earning the #31 position. Get the full The University Of Tampa report
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth offered strong value this year, earning the #32 position. Read the full report on University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth
University Of Rhode Island placed #33 among the best-value Criminology schools in the United States. See the full University Of Rhode Island profile
Letourneau University placed #34 among the best-value Criminology schools in the United States. See the full Letourneau University profile
St Marys University placed #35 among the best-value Criminology schools in the United States. Read more about St Marys University
University Of Central Arkansas came in at #36 in this year's value ranking. More on University Of Central Arkansas
University Of La Verne came in at #37 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on University Of La Verne
University Of New Hampshire Main Campus landed the #38 spot for value in the United States this year. More on University Of New Hampshire Main Campus
Arkansas State University Main Campus landed the #39 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Arkansas State University Main Campus
Florida Southern College ranked #40 on our 2026 list of the best-value Criminology schools. Get the full Florida Southern College report
Siena College
Siena College came in at #41 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Siena College report
Swarthmore College came in at #42 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Swarthmore College report
Western Kentucky University placed #43 among the best-value Criminology schools in the United States. Read the full report on Western Kentucky University
Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus came in at #44 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus report
University Of Denver landed the #45 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full University Of Denver report
West Virginia University offered strong value this year, earning the #46 position. More on West Virginia University
Pacific University offered strong value this year, earning the #47 position. See the full Pacific University profile
Auburn University placed #48 among the best-value Criminology schools in the United States. See the full Auburn University profile
University Of Akron Main Campus ranked #49 on our 2026 list of the best-value Criminology schools. More on University Of Akron Main Campus
Johnson C Smith University landed the #50 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Johnson C Smith University profile
Related Criminology Value Rankings
Explore other degree levels:
- Best Value Criminology Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Criminology Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Criminology Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Criminology Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Criminology Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Criminology Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Criminology Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs 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 · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 249 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).