2027 Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools in Wisconsin

[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. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 13 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 Wisconsin
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
For return on investment in criminal justice & police science, no school beat Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College this year. Located in the town of Rice Lake, Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,926, with out-of-state students paying around $7,169. Students borrow a median of $10,252 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College generally make around $44,966. That is a strong return on a $10,252 median debt.
Blackhawk Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & police science, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Janesville, Blackhawk Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,747 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,803 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,937 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Blackhawk Technical College earn a median of $54,417 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lakeshore Technical College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Located in the rural area of Cleveland, Lakeshore Technical College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,844, while out-of-state students pay about $7,087. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $11,582 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Lakeshore Technical College earn a median of $41,252 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,582 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice & police science will find it at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Green Bay, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,960, with out-of-state students paying around $7,203. Students borrow a median of $14,997 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Northeast Wisconsin Technical College earn a median of $36,713 early in their careers. Set against $14,997 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northcentral Technical College earned it the #5 place for criminal justice & police science. Set in the city of Wausau, Northcentral Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,889, with out-of-state students paying around $7,132. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $14,250 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Northcentral Technical College earn a median of $49,533 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,250 median debt.
Mid State Technical College came in at #6 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the town of Wisconsin Rapids, Mid State Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,002, while out-of-state students pay about $7,171. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $13,500. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Mid State Technical College earn a median of $41,678 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Western Technical College La Cross earned the #7 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the city of La Crosse, Western Technical College La Cross is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,820 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,078. Students borrow a median of $15,494 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Western Technical College La Cross earn a median of $59,276 early in their careers. Set against $15,494 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Waukesha County Technical College placed #8 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Located in the suburb of Pewaukee, Waukesha County Technical College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,803, while out-of-state students pay about $7,046. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $16,813. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Waukesha County Technical College generally make around $55,353. Set against $16,813 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Fox Valley Technical College came in at #9 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Fox Valley Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of Appleton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,040, compared with $7,283 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,125 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Fox Valley Technical College generally make around $52,156. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Chippewa Valley Technical College earned the #10 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the city of Eau Claire, Chippewa Valley Technical College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,844, compared with $7,087 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,537 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Chippewa Valley Technical College generally make around $49,204. Set against $13,537 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College landed the #11 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Southwest Wisconsin Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Fennimore. In-state tuition and fees average $4,904, with out-of-state students paying around $7,147. Students borrow a median of $12,750 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Southwest Wisconsin Technical College generally make around $51,806. That is a strong return on a $12,750 median debt.
Gateway Technical College landed the #12 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Gateway Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Kenosha. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,956, compared with $7,199 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $16,084 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Gateway Technical College earn a median of $56,350 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,084 median debt.
Madison Area Technical College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Madison Area Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Madison. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,977, compared with $7,141 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $13,750. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $39,174. Set against $13,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.