2026 Best Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools in Ohio

1

Cedarville University
Cedarville, OH

Cedarville University tops our 2026 ranking of the best criminal justice & police science schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Cedarville. About 72% of students finish within six years. About 14 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Cedarville University in the most recent 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. Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Cedarville University

2

Cuyahoga Community College District
Cleveland, OH

Students looking for a strong criminal justice & police science program will find one at Cuyahoga Community College District, which ranked #2. Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Cleveland. About 30 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Cuyahoga Community College District in the most recent 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

3

Owens Community College
Perrysburg, OH

A rank of #3 makes Owens Community College one of the top schools for criminal justice & police science. This large public university is located in the suburb of Perrysburg. About 37 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Owens Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Owens Community College earn around $51,319 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,663 to complete this degree. Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at Owens Community College

4

Lakeland Community College
Kirtland, OH

A rank of #4 makes Lakeland Community College one of the top schools for criminal justice & police science. Lakeland Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Kirtland. There were roughly 20 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Lakeland Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $51,941 in their early career. Lakeland Community College graduates carry a median of $19,857 in student loans. Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Lakeland Community College

5

Central Ohio Technical College
Newark, OH

A rank of #5 makes Central Ohio Technical College one of the top schools for criminal justice & police science. Set in the suburb of Newark, Central Ohio Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Central Ohio Technical College awarded about 35 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Central Ohio Technical College earn around $40,065 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,779 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Central Ohio Technical College

6

North Central State College
Mansfield, OH

North Central State College placed #6 among the best criminal justice & police science schools. North Central State College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Mansfield. There were roughly 32 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at North Central State College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from North Central State College earn around $50,218 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,782. See the full criminal justice & police science program report for North Central State College

7

Hocking College
Nelsonville, OH

Hocking College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the rural area of Nelsonville. There were roughly 40 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Hocking College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $37,002 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,750. More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Hocking College

8

Marion Technical College
Marion, OH

Marion Technical College earned the #8 position for criminal justice & police science this year. Marion Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Marion. About 13 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Marion Technical College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Marion Technical College earn around $48,132 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,828 to complete this degree. Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Marion Technical College

9

Defiance College
Defiance, OH

Defiance College landed the #9 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the town of Defiance, Defiance College is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 31%. About 11 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Defiance College in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Defiance College earn a median of $31,528 early in their careers. Defiance College graduates carry a median of $27,700 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Defiance College

10

Stark State College
North Canton, OH

Stark State College earned the #10 position for criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the suburb of North Canton, Stark State College is a large public institution. There were roughly 21 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Stark State College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Stark State College earn around $35,014 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,350 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Stark State College

11

Columbus State Community College
Columbus, OH

Columbus State Community College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. Columbus State Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. There were roughly 43 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Columbus State Community College in the most recent data year. Columbus State Community College graduates carry a median of $9,041 in student loans. Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Columbus State Community College

12

Sinclair Community College
Dayton, OH

Sinclair Community College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. Located in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public university. Sinclair Community College awarded about 247 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Sinclair Community College generally make around $29,888. Sinclair Community College graduates carry a median of $11,054 in student loans. See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Sinclair Community College

13

Edison State Community College
Piqua, OH

Edison State Community College landed the #13 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. Edison State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Piqua. About 38 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Edison State Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Edison State Community College earn around $43,481 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,406 to complete this degree. See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Edison State Community College

14

Lorain County Community College
Elyria, OH

Lorain County Community College came in at #14 for criminal justice & police science this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Elyria. Lorain County Community College awarded about 47 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Lorain County Community College generally make around $40,095. Lorain County Community College graduates carry a median of $17,611 in student loans. See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Lorain County Community College

15

Clark State Community College
Springfield, OH

Clark State Community College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. Located in the city of Springfield, Clark State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 25 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Clark State Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Clark State Community College earn around $39,734 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,522. More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Clark State Community College

16

Kent State University At Trumbull
Warren, OH

Kent State University At Trumbull landed the #16 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. Kent State University At Trumbull is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Warren. About 2% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 36 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Kent State University At Trumbull in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $33,980 in their early career. Kent State University At Trumbull graduates carry a median of $22,843 in student loans. Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at Kent State University At Trumbull

17

Zane State College
Zanesville, OH

Zane State College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. Zane State College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Zanesville. About 11 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Zane State College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Zane State College earn around $35,764 in the first couple years of their career. Zane State College graduates carry a median of $8,556 in student loans. See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Zane State College

18

Southern State Community College
Hillsboro, OH

Southern State Community College landed the #18 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the town of Hillsboro, Southern State Community College is a mid-sized public institution. About 10 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Southern State Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $45,611 in their early career. Southern State Community College graduates carry a median of $15,282 in student loans. Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at Southern State Community College

19

Butler Tech D Russel Lee Career Center
Monroe, OH

Butler Tech D Russel Lee Career Center landed the #19 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. This small public university is located in the suburb of Monroe. About 43 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Butler Tech D Russel Lee Career Center in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $53,759 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,022. Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at Butler Tech D Russel Lee Career Center

20

Polaris Career Center
Middleburg Heights, OH

Polaris Career Center ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. Polaris Career Center is a small public school located in the suburb of Middleburg Heights. About 12 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Polaris Career Center in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Polaris Career Center earn a median of $41,966 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $6,365. See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Polaris Career Center

21

Great Oaks Career Campuses
Cincinnati, OH

Great Oaks Career Campuses ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. Great Oaks Career Campuses is a small public school located in the suburb of Cincinnati. There were roughly 29 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Great Oaks Career Campuses in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Great Oaks Career Campuses earn a median of $60,896 early in their careers. Great Oaks Career Campuses graduates carry a median of $16,673 in student loans. Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Great Oaks Career Campuses

22

Greene County Vocational School District
Xenia, OH

Greene County Vocational School District came in at #22 for criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the rural area of Xenia, Greene County Vocational School District is a small public university. There were roughly 21 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Greene County Vocational School District in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Greene County Vocational School District generally make around $46,623. Students borrow a median of $8,919 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Greene County Vocational School District

23

Ohio Technical Center At Vantage Career Center
Van Wert, OH

Ohio Technical Center At Vantage Career Center came in at #23 for criminal justice & police science this year. This small public university is located in the town of Van Wert. About 20 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Ohio Technical Center At Vantage Career Center in the most recent year. Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Ohio Technical Center At Vantage Career Center

24

Scioto County Career Technical Center
Lucasville, OH

Scioto County Career Technical Center placed #24 among the best criminal justice & police science schools. Scioto County Career Technical Center is a small public school located in the rural area of Lucasville. There were roughly 35 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Scioto County Career Technical Center in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Scioto County Career Technical Center earn around $31,080 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $10,072 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Scioto County Career Technical Center