Best Value Criminal Justice and Corrections Colleges in Florida

Criminal justice programs in Florida show dramatic earnings variation, with Herzing University-Orlando graduates earning $58,943 annually while Bethune-Cookman graduates average $25,967. Indian River State College offers the most affordable path at just $5,202 net cost, making it nearly four times cheaper than private alternatives. Public universities dominate the value equation, with eight of the top ten schools charging under $11,000 annually. Florida's massive tourism industry creates substantial demand for security professionals, while the state's growing population drives need for corrections officers and court personnel. The Bright Futures scholarship program can eliminate tuition costs entirely for qualifying students at public institutions. Florida State University combines relatively low costs with an 83% graduation rate, though its acceptance rate of just 25% makes admission competitive. Private schools like Saint Leo University charge significantly more but offer smaller class sizes and specialized training opportunities. The state's lack of income tax means graduates keep more of their earnings compared to other states, improving the real value proposition for all programs regardless of initial cost.

Programs

$5,202 – $40,289

Net Price Range

$34,598

Avg. Program Earnings

46.4%

Avg. Graduation Rate

35 Criminal Justice and Corrections Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	Program Earnings	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	Indian River State College Fort Pierce, Florida	$5,202	$32,213	$2,764	42.5%
2	Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, Florida	$8,001	$33,335	$4,879	64.3%	81.3%
3	University of West Florida Pensacola, Florida	$8,155	$33,239	$6,360	61.8%	48.0%
4	Polk State College Winter Haven, Florida	$9,027	$35,274	$3,366	34.0%
5	Florida International University Miami, Florida	$9,133	$33,680	$6,565	73.9%	63.9%
6	University of North Florida Jacksonville, Florida	$10,353	$36,704	$6,389	68.2%	70.5%
7	Florida Gulf Coast University Fort Myers, Florida	$10,319	$34,667	$6,118	56.0%	74.4%
8	Herzing University-Orlando Winter Park, Florida	$19,758	$58,943	$13,420	45.5%	94.3%
9	Florida State University Tallahassee, Florida	$10,997	$31,993	$5,656	83.0%	25.0%
10	University of Central Florida Orlando, Florida	$10,650	$28,381	$6,368	75.1%	41.0%
11	Strayer University-Florida Tampa, Florida	$17,518	$40,448	$13,920
12	Saint Leo University Saint Leo, Florida	$18,467	$41,601	$28,360	48.8%	80.1%
13	Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University Tallahassee, Florida	$15,847	$29,557	$5,785	51.9%	32.9%
14	Rasmussen University-Florida Ocala, Florida	$19,113	$35,060	$15,117	51.0%
15	Bethune-Cookman University Daytona Beach, Florida	$14,892	$25,967	$14,794	27.8%	85.0%
16	South University-West Palm Beach Royal Palm Beach, Florida	$20,494	$34,420	$18,238	21.4%
17	Florida Memorial University Miami Gardens, Florida	$18,675	$29,250	$19,110	30.2%	69.9%
18	Florida National University-Main Campus Hialeah, Florida	$23,629	$33,637	$16,088	28.1%
19	South University-Tampa Tampa, Florida	$24,280	$34,420	$18,238	4.5%
20	Hodges University Fort Myers, Florida	$22,602	$28,598	$15,580	22.4%
21	Lynn University Boca Raton, Florida	$38,222	$45,198	$42,950	52.7%	80.1%
22	Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale Fort Lauderdale, Florida	$34,439	$40,322	$24,136	44.2%	96.5%
23	Nova Southeastern University Fort Lauderdale, Florida	$31,303	$32,391	$37,080	64.3%	75.8%
24	St. Thomas University Miami Gardens, Florida	$24,275	$21,052	$34,770	43.4%	65.2%
25	Warner University Lake Wales, Florida	$21,007		$28,160	34.9%	55.1%
26	Webber International University Babson Park, Florida	$29,932		$32,150	26.0%	49.0%
27	Trinity Baptist College Jacksonville, Florida	$19,273		$14,300	44.2%	49.6%
28	Southeastern University Lakeland, Florida	$30,209		$31,732	43.3%	60.9%
29	Trinity International University-Florida Miami, Florida	$5,455		$14,180
30	Florida Institute of Technology Melbourne, Florida	$35,300		$44,360	65.5%	64.4%
31	Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide Daytona Beach, Florida	$19,733		$11,665	21.6%	57.7%
32	Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach Daytona Beach, Florida	$40,289		$42,304	67.4%	64.5%
33	Edward Waters University Jacksonville, Florida	$13,580		$14,878	28.0%	83.5%
34	Albizu University-Miami Miami, Florida	$36,302		$13,128	60.0%	88.9%
35	Florida Institute of Technology-Online Melbourne, Florida	$25,374		$12,240		92.0%

Frequently Asked Questions

What explains the $33,000 earnings gap between the highest and lowest-paying programs?

Herzing University-Orlando focuses on specialized security management and federal law enforcement preparation, leading to $58,943 average earnings. Bethune-Cookman University graduates typically enter entry-level corrections and local police positions starting around $25,967. Private institutions often provide direct industry connections and advanced certifications that command higher starting salaries. The type of criminal justice specialization significantly impacts earning potential in Florida's varied job market.

How do Florida's public universities compare in graduation rates for criminal justice students?

Florida State University leads public institutions with an 83% graduation rate, followed by University of Central Florida at 75.1%. However, FSU accepts only 25% of applicants compared to UCF's 41% acceptance rate. University of North Florida achieves a solid 68.2% graduation rate while accepting 70.5% of applicants. Community colleges like Indian River State College show lower graduation rates at 42.5% but serve different student populations with varying academic preparation.

Is the debt load reasonable for criminal justice graduates in Florida?

Most public university graduates carry manageable debt loads between $13,000-$20,000, well below the national average for bachelor's degrees. Indian River State College produces the lowest debt at $13,819, while University of North Florida graduates average $15,987. Strayer University creates concerning debt levels at $41,562 for graduates earning $40,448 annually. Private nonprofit schools like Saint Leo University charge more upfront but graduates earn enough to justify the $25,620 average debt load.

Does Florida's Bright Futures program significantly impact criminal justice education costs?

Bright Futures can eliminate tuition entirely at public universities, reducing net costs to just room, board, and fees. Students at Florida State University pay only $5,656 in-state tuition before scholarships, making the program nearly free for qualifying recipients. The scholarship covers 100% of tuition for students meeting academic requirements, explaining why several Florida public universities show low net costs. This program makes Florida particularly attractive for criminal justice students compared to other states without similar full aid.

Where do criminal justice graduates find the best employment opportunities in Florida?

South Florida's Miami-Dade and Broward counties offer the highest-paying positions due to large metropolitan police departments and federal agencies. Orlando's tourism industry creates substantial private security demand, supporting University of Central Florida's strong regional connections. Tampa Bay area provides corrections opportunities with multiple state facilities and growing corporate security needs. Jacksonville's port operations and military presence support University of North Florida graduates entering federal law enforcement and homeland security positions.

More Criminal Justice and Corrections Rankings

Cheapest Criminal Justice and Corrections in Florida Criminal Justice and Corrections Under $20,000 in Florida

All Criminal Justice and Corrections Programs Best Colleges in Florida Best Criminal Justice and Corrections in Florida

Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.