Best value colleges for Criminal Justice in District of Columbia.2026 Rankings
District of Columbia is home to 6 accredited institutions offering Criminal Justice programs — from large public research universities to small private liberal arts colleges. This ranking evaluates each school on admission selectivity, four-year graduation rate, net price, and graduate earnings to surface the programs that deliver the strongest outcomes.
Among the schools listed here, Howard University is the most selective, admitting 35% of applicants. Average in-state tuition across this group sits at $34,805, while out-of-state students can expect to pay around $34,805. Median early-career earnings for Criminal Justice graduates in this state average $58,153 per year, and the average four-year graduation rate among ranked programs is 49%.
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ranked by value score
| # | College | Value Score | Admit Rate | Grad Rate | Net Price | Median Earnings | Student:Faculty | Majors Offered | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | George Washington UniversityPrivate | Excellent· 44 | 44% | 85% | $21,863 | $51,256 | 12:1 | 82 | 10,848 |
| 2 | American UniversityPrivate | Great· 41 | 47% | 78% | $23,477 | $37,147 | 10:1 | 44 | 7,593 |
| 3 | Strong· 35 | 99% | 44% | $13,393 | $47,385 | 9:1 | 29 | 1,415 | |
| 4 | Howard UniversityPrivate | Average· 28 | 35% | 69% | $49,005 | $27,801 | 11:1 | 60 | 9,604 |
| 5 | Poor· 15 | — | 0% | $13,920 | $43,405 | 39:1 | 10 | 309 | |
| 6 | Very Poor· 11 | — | 20% | $20,293 | $43,405 | 39:1 | 10 | 10,087 |