2026 Best Value Criminology Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Criminology undergraduate certificate degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 249 schools 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 Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools for value:
For return on investment, no school beat University Of Missouri St Louis this year in the United States. This public school is set in Saint Louis, MO. In-state tuition and fees average $15,120, while out-of-state students pay about $37,620. The median Criminology program debt is $22,801. Graduates go on to earn a median of $53,037 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted. See the full University Of Missouri St Louis profile
A rank of #2 makes University Of Maryland Eastern Shore one of the best values in the United States. See the full University Of Maryland Eastern Shore profile
Heidelberg University came in at #3 on this year's best-value Criminology ranking in the United States. See the full Heidelberg University profile
Lee University came in at #4 on this year's best-value Criminology ranking in the United States. Get the full Lee University report
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Tiffin University earned it the #5 place in the United States. Get the full Tiffin University report
Crown College placed #6 among the best-value Criminology schools in the United States. Read the full report on Crown College
Virginia Union University offered strong value this year, earning the #7 position. See the full Virginia Union University profile
Avila University landed the #8 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Avila University
Azusa Pacific University came in at #9 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Azusa Pacific University
Northern Arizona University landed the #10 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Northern Arizona University report
University Of Hartford landed the #11 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full University Of Hartford report
Capital Community College landed the #12 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Capital Community College profile
Assumption College offered strong value this year, earning the #13 position. Read the full report on Assumption College
University Of South Carolina Columbia placed #14 among the best-value Criminology schools in the United States. More on University Of South Carolina Columbia
Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Mayaguez came in at #15 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Mayaguez report
Thomas College
Thomas College placed #16 among the best-value Criminology schools in the United States. Read more about Thomas College
Dominican University landed the #17 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Dominican University profile
Hamline University came in at #18 in this year's value ranking. More on Hamline University
Humboldt State University came in at #19 in this year's value ranking. More on Humboldt State University
Immaculata University landed the #20 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Immaculata University report
Missouri State University Springfield came in at #21 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Missouri State University Springfield
University Of La Verne offered strong value this year, earning the #22 position. More on University Of La Verne
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte landed the #23 spot for value in the United States this year. More on University Of North Carolina At Charlotte
University Of Wisconsin Stout placed #24 among the best-value Criminology schools in the United States. More on University Of Wisconsin Stout
Butler University offered strong value this year, earning the #25 position. More on Butler University
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Criminology Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
Calvin College
Calvin College came in at #26 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Calvin College report
Central Maine Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #27 position. See the full Central Maine Community College profile
Oklahoma Wesleyan University came in at #28 in this year's value ranking. See the full Oklahoma Wesleyan University profile
Otterbein University ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best-value Criminology schools. See the full Otterbein University profile
Rosemont College
Rosemont College offered strong value this year, earning the #30 position. More on Rosemont College
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus placed #31 among the best-value Criminology schools in the United States. Read the full report on Southern Arkansas University Main Campus
Mcpherson College landed the #32 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Mcpherson College report
Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania came in at #33 in this year's value ranking. More on Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania
University Of Saint Mary ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best-value Criminology schools. Read the full report on University Of Saint Mary
Saint Leo University landed the #35 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Saint Leo University
Saint Mary Of The Woods College landed the #36 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Saint Mary Of The Woods College
Concordia University Chicago came in at #37 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Concordia University Chicago report
Swarthmore College ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best-value Criminology schools. More on Swarthmore College
University Of Florida placed #39 among the best-value Criminology schools in the United States. Read more about University Of Florida
Peace College
Peace College landed the #40 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Peace College profile
The Chicago School Of Professional Psychology At Los Angeles landed the #41 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about The Chicago School Of Professional Psychology At Los Angeles
Western Kentucky University landed the #42 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Western Kentucky University report
Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Ponce came in at #43 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Ponce report
University Of Utah offered strong value this year, earning the #44 position. Read the full report on University Of Utah
Old Dominion University offered strong value this year, earning the #45 position. Read the full report on Old Dominion University
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth placed #46 among the best-value Criminology schools in the United States. See the full University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth profile
University Of Missouri Kansas City placed #47 among the best-value Criminology schools in the United States. More on University Of Missouri Kansas City
Wright State University Main Campus placed #48 among the best-value Criminology schools in the United States. More on Wright State University Main Campus
Adler School Of Professional Psychology placed #49 among the best-value Criminology schools in the United States. Read the full report on Adler School Of Professional Psychology
University Of Rhode Island landed the #50 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of Rhode Island
Related Criminology Value Rankings
Explore other degree levels:
- Best Value Criminology Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Criminology Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Criminology Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Criminology Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Criminology Graduate Certificate 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).
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