2027 Best Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Criminal Justice & Police Science degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 69 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for criminal justice & police science students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Criminal Justice & Police Science in the Great Lakes Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the criminal justice & police science degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Criminal Justice & Police Science
Our analysis ranked Fox Valley Technical College the best school in the country for a degree in criminal justice & police science. Set in the suburb of Appleton, Fox Valley Technical College is a large public institution. Fox Valley Technical College awarded about 126 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Fox Valley Technical College earn a median of $52,156 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,125 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Fox Valley Technical College
A rank of #2 makes Madison Area Technical College one of the top schools for criminal justice & police science. This large public university is located in the city of Madison. There were roughly 77 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Madison Area Technical College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Madison Area Technical College generally make around $39,174. Madison Area Technical College graduates carry a median of $13,750 in student loans.
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Cedarville University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & police science, landing the #3 spot this year. Cedarville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Cedarville. About 72% of students finish within six years. Cedarville University awarded about 15 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Cedarville University earn a median of $57,104 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,110.
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Students looking for a strong criminal justice & police science program will find one at Harper College, which ranked #4. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Palatine. There were roughly 22 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Harper College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $38,474 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $10,963 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Harper College
Students looking for a strong criminal justice & police science program will find one at Ferris State University, which ranked #5. Ferris State University is a large public school located in the town of Big Rapids. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. About 159 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Ferris State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Ferris State University earn around $48,266 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,880 to complete this degree.
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Eastern Illinois University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. This large public university is located in the town of Charleston. Eastern Illinois University graduates 47% of students within six years. Eastern Illinois University awarded about 29 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Eastern Illinois University generally make around $40,489. Students borrow a median of $24,293 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Eastern Illinois University
Lansing Community College came in at #7 for criminal justice & police science this year. This large public university is located in the city of Lansing. There were roughly 22 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Lansing Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Lansing Community College generally make around $46,103. Typical student debt for the program is $16,700.
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Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. Located in the town of Rice Lake, Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 23 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College earn a median of $44,966 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,252 to complete this degree.
Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College
Chippewa Valley Technical College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. Chippewa Valley Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Eau Claire. About 82 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Chippewa Valley Technical College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $49,204 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,537 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Chippewa Valley Technical College
Gateway Technical College placed #10 among the best criminal justice & police science schools. Located in the city of Kenosha, Gateway Technical College is a large public university. About 72 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Gateway Technical College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Gateway Technical College generally make around $56,350. Gateway Technical College graduates carry a median of $16,084 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Gateway Technical College
Lakeshore Technical College landed the #11 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the rural area of Cleveland. About 32 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Lakeshore Technical College in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Lakeshore Technical College earn a median of $41,252 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,582.
See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Lakeshore Technical College
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College placed #12 among the best criminal justice & police science schools. Southwest Wisconsin Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Fennimore. Southwest Wisconsin Technical College awarded about 27 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Southwest Wisconsin Technical College generally make around $51,806. Typical student debt for the program is $12,750.
Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College
Moraine Valley Community College placed #13 among the best criminal justice & police science schools. Set in the suburb of Palos Hills, Moraine Valley Community College is a large public institution. Moraine Valley Community College awarded about 29 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Moraine Valley Community College generally make around $43,844. Students borrow a median of $11,149 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Moraine Valley Community College
Oakland Community College earned the #14 position for criminal justice & police science this year. Oakland Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Auburn Hills. There were roughly 106 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Oakland Community College in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Oakland Community College earn a median of $51,827 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,506.
See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Oakland Community College
Columbus State Community College placed #15 among the best criminal justice & police science schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Columbus. Columbus State Community College awarded about 51 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Typical student debt for the program is $9,041.
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Schoolcraft College earned the #16 position for criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the city of Livonia, Schoolcraft College is a large public university. About 32 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Schoolcraft College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $49,224 in their early career. Schoolcraft College graduates carry a median of $11,868 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Schoolcraft College
Waukesha County Technical College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. Set in the suburb of Pewaukee, Waukesha County Technical College is a large public institution. About 57 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Waukesha County Technical College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Waukesha County Technical College earn around $55,353 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,813 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Waukesha County Technical College
University Of Indianapolis came in at #18 for criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the city of Indianapolis, University Of Indianapolis is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 13 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Indianapolis in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $44,418 in their early career. University Of Indianapolis graduates carry a median of $26,324 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from University Of Indianapolis
Western Technical College La Cross landed the #19 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. This large public university is located in the city of La Crosse. Western Technical College La Cross awarded about 38 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Western Technical College La Cross earn around $59,276 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,494 to complete this degree.
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Elgin Community College placed #20 among the best criminal justice & police science schools. Located in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a large public university. There were roughly 21 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Elgin Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Elgin Community College earn around $43,975 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $7,727.
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Northeast Wisconsin Technical College placed #21 among the best criminal justice & police science schools. Set in the city of Green Bay, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is a large public institution. Northeast Wisconsin Technical College awarded about 58 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Northeast Wisconsin Technical College earn a median of $36,713 early in their careers. Northeast Wisconsin Technical College graduates carry a median of $14,997 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College
Cuyahoga Community College District placed #22 among the best criminal justice & police science schools. Located in the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public university. There were roughly 28 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Cuyahoga Community College District in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Cuyahoga Community College District earn around $38,595 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $7,149.
Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Cuyahoga Community College District
College Of Dupage placed #23 among the best criminal justice & police science schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn. There were roughly 39 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at College Of Dupage in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $28,749 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $7,521.
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Joliet Junior College placed #24 among the best criminal justice & police science schools. Set in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public institution. About 24 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Joliet Junior College in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Joliet Junior College earn a median of $40,118 early in their careers. Joliet Junior College graduates carry a median of $11,995 in student loans.
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Owens Community College placed #25 among the best criminal justice & police science schools. Owens Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Perrysburg. There were roughly 55 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Owens Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $51,319 in their early career. Owens Community College graduates carry a median of $15,663 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 50 Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools
These schools also placed among the best for criminal justice & police science this year:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 69 schools evaluated.
- 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.
