Cheapest Criminal Justice and Corrections Colleges in Washington

University of Washington-Tacoma delivers the state's most affordable Criminal Justice and Corrections program at just $10,017 net cost, making it nearly four times cheaper than Gonzaga's $36,371 price tag. This $26,354 gap between cheapest and most expensive reflects Washington's split between accessible public education and premium private options. Criminal justice graduates here enter a job market shaped by federal agencies like the DEA and FBI's Seattle field office, plus state corrections facilities managing over 17,000 inmates. Central Washington University graduates earn the highest median salary at $39,239, while maintaining reasonable costs at $14,715 net price.

Programs

$10,017 – $36,371

Net Price Range

$35,732

Avg. Program Earnings

57.3%

Avg. Graduation Rate

12 Criminal Justice and Corrections Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	University of Washington-Tacoma Campus Tacoma, Washington	$10,017	$12,817	62.3%	88.4%
2	Heritage University Toppenish, Washington	$11,893	$19,920	39.8%
3	University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, Washington	$13,485	$12,643	83.7%	47.5%
4	Washington State University Pullman, Washington	$14,401	$12,997	61.6%	83.1%
5	Central Washington University Ellensburg, Washington	$14,715	$9,192	49.9%	93.5%
6	Saint Martin's University Lacey, Washington	$22,618	$44,210	57.1%	95.0%
7	Seattle Pacific University Seattle, Washington	$24,820	$38,814	62.1%	90.7%
8	Northwest University Kirkland, Washington	$25,161	$36,035	63.5%	94.3%
9	Northwest University-Center for Online and Extended Education Kirkland, Washington	$26,734	$14,652	30.8%
10	Seattle University Seattle, Washington	$34,802	$54,285	73.3%	85.2%
11	City University of Seattle Seattle, Washington	$35,049	$14,589	16.7%
12	Gonzaga University Spokane, Washington	$36,371	$53,500	86.9%	69.7%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes University of Washington-Tacoma so affordable for criminal justice students?

UW-Tacoma's $10,017 net cost comes from strong state funding and the Washington College Grant, which covers full tuition for qualifying students. The campus maintains an 88.35% acceptance rate while delivering the same degree credibility as the main Seattle campus.

How do graduation rates compare between public and private criminal justice programs?

UW-Seattle leads with an 83.7% graduation rate, while private schools show mixed results from Gonzaga's 86.9% down to City University of Seattle's 16.7%. Public universities generally offer more consistent outcomes, with most hovering between 50-84% completion rates.

Is the earnings potential worth the higher costs at private schools?

Central Washington University graduates earn $39,239 annually at just $14,715 net cost, outperforming expensive private options. Heritage University offers competitive earnings of $38,289 with moderate costs, while Saint Martin's graduates earn only $31,305 despite the $22,618 price tag.

Where do criminal justice graduates find the best job opportunities in Washington?

Seattle and Tacoma offer the most federal law enforcement positions, while the state operates 12 major correctional facilities statewide. Boeing's security division and tech companies like Microsoft create additional private sector opportunities for graduates with criminal justice backgrounds.

More Criminal Justice and Corrections Rankings

Best Value Criminal Justice and Corrections in Washington Criminal Justice and Corrections Under $20,000 in Washington

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

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