2027 Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools in Ohio
[Criminal Justice & Police Science](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/criminal-justice-and-police-science/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 26 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value criminal justice & police science schools.
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2027 Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools in Ohio
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the criminal justice & police science degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools
Cuyahoga Community College District earned the #1 spot for value among criminal justice & police science schools in Ohio. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,249, compared with $7,249 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,149 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $38,595. That is a strong return on a $7,149 median debt.
North Central State College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. North Central State College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Mansfield. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,786, compared with $11,374 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,782 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of North Central State College earn a median of $50,218 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice & police science will find it at Lorain County Community College, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Elyria, Lorain County Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,265 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,860. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $17,611. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Lorain County Community College earn a median of $40,095 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice & police science will find it at Stark State College, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of North Canton, Stark State College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,790, while out-of-state students pay about $7,886. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $16,350. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Stark State College earn a median of $35,014 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Sinclair Community College earned it the #5 place for criminal justice & police science. Set in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,675, compared with $8,556 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,054 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Sinclair Community College generally make around $29,888. Set against $11,054 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Edison State Community College placed #6 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Located in the rural area of Piqua, Edison State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,499, with out-of-state students paying around $8,346. Students borrow a median of $15,406 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $43,481. That is a strong return on a $15,406 median debt.
Lakeland Community College earned the #7 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Lakeland Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Kirtland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,872, compared with $9,235 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $19,857 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $51,941. That is a strong return on a $19,857 median debt.
Marion Technical College placed #8 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Set in the town of Marion, Marion Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,595, compared with $11,225 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $11,828. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Marion Technical College earn a median of $48,132 early in their careers. Set against $11,828 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Columbus State Community College earned the #9 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Columbus State Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,488, with out-of-state students paying around $11,224. Students borrow a median of $9,041 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Median earnings reach $39,435 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $9,041 median debt.
Washington State Community College came in at #10 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Washington State Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Marietta. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,128, with out-of-state students paying around $4,152. Students borrow a median of $16,291 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Washington State Community College earn a median of $45,305 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
James A Rhodes State College came in at #11 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. James A Rhodes State College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Lima. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,560, while out-of-state students pay about $9,120. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $17,070 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $47,074. Set against $17,070 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Zane State College landed the #12 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Zane State College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Zanesville. Students from in state pay about $6,006 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,766. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $8,556 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Zane State College earn a median of $35,764 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Ohio Technical College landed the #13 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Set in the suburb of Newark, Central Ohio Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,256, with out-of-state students paying around $8,016. Students borrow a median of $16,779 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $40,065. Set against $16,779 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Owens Community College came in at #14 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the suburb of Perrysburg, Owens Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,870 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,502. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $15,663. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $51,319. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kent State University At Trumbull ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Located in the rural area of Warren, Kent State University At Trumbull is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,211, while out-of-state students pay about $17,969. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $22,843 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Kent State University At Trumbull earn a median of $33,980 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,843 median debt.
Polaris Career Center came in at #16 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Polaris Career Center is a small public school located in the suburb of Middleburg Heights. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $6,365 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Polaris Career Center generally make around $41,966. Set against $6,365 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Clark State Community College earned the #17 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the city of Springfield, Clark State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,393, while out-of-state students pay about $8,049. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $15,522 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Clark State Community College generally make around $39,734. Set against $15,522 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northwest State Community College earned the #18 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Northwest State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Archbold. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,698, with out-of-state students paying around $9,170. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $11,565. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Northwest State Community College earn a median of $45,123 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hocking College landed the #19 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Set in the rural area of Nelsonville, Hocking College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,646, with out-of-state students paying around $10,290. Students borrow a median of $14,750 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Hocking College earn a median of $37,002 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,750 median debt.
Great Oaks Career Campuses landed the #20 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Located in the suburb of Cincinnati, Great Oaks Career Campuses is a small public university. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $16,673. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Great Oaks Career Campuses earn a median of $60,896 early in their careers. Set against $16,673 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Eastland Fairfield Career And Technical Schools landed the #21 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Located in the suburb of Groveport, Eastland Fairfield Career And Technical Schools is a small public university. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $7,874. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Eastland Fairfield Career And Technical Schools generally make around $53,090. That is a strong return on a $7,874 median debt.
Kent State University At Kent ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Kent State University At Kent is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kent. In-state tuition and fees average $12,220, compared with $21,575 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $22,843. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $44,776. That is a strong return on a $22,843 median debt. Kent State University At Kent admits about 86% of applicants.
Scioto County Career Technical Center landed the #23 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Located in the rural area of Lucasville, Scioto County Career Technical Center is a small public university. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $10,072. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Scioto County Career Technical Center earn a median of $31,080 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ohio University Main Campus came in at #24 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,158, compared with $24,838 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,500 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $44,159. Set against $13,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Cedarville University ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Set in the rural area of Cedarville, Cedarville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $37,150 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,110 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $57,104. That is a strong return on a $22,110 median debt. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 26 Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s criminal justice & police science value ranking:
More Criminal Justice & Police Science Rankings
View All Criminal Justice & Police Science Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on 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 · 26 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 26 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
