2027 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in Indiana
[Criminal Justice Studies](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/criminal-justice-studies/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 18 schools to find the best return on investment for criminal justice studies students.
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2027 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in Indiana
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the criminal justice studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools
Leading the list is Indiana University Kokomo, our #1 best value for criminal justice studies in Indiana. Indiana University Kokomo is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Kokomo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,424, compared with $22,811 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $46,902. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Indiana University Kokomo admits about 86% of applicants.
Indiana University Northwest is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Indiana University Northwest is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Gary. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,424, with out-of-state students paying around $22,811. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $24,471 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $41,295. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earned it the #3 place for criminal justice studies. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,762 in tuition and fees, compared with $34,891 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,300 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis generally make around $46,011. Set against $20,300 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis admits about 76% of applicants.
Purdue University Global came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice studies schools. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Global is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,101, compared with $14,412 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $25,137 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $52,005. That is a strong return on a $25,137 median debt.
Ivy Tech Community College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice studies schools. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,154 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,935. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $14,215 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Ivy Tech Community College generally make around $33,881. Set against $14,215 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Indiana University Southeast landed the #6 spot for criminal justice studies value this year. Set in the suburb of New Albany, Indiana University Southeast is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,424, while out-of-state students pay about $22,811. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $23,950 in student loans. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Indiana University Southeast earn a median of $41,898 early in their careers. Set against $23,950 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
University Of Southern Indiana landed the #7 spot for criminal justice studies value this year. Located in the suburb of Evansville, University Of Southern Indiana is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,066, with out-of-state students paying around $22,907. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of University Of Southern Indiana earn a median of $39,384 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University South Bend ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice studies schools. Set in the city of South Bend, Indiana University South Bend is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,424 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,811. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $17,275 in student loans. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Indiana University South Bend earn a median of $35,462 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,275 median debt. Indiana University South Bend admits about 84% of applicants.
Ball State University earned the #9 position for value in criminal justice studies this year. Set in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,082, while out-of-state students pay about $29,630. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $23,367 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $39,991. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Ball State University admits about 86% of applicants.
Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice studies schools. Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Fort Wayne. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,532, with out-of-state students paying around $22,887. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne generally make around $36,059. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne admits about 84% of applicants.
Indiana University Bloomington landed the #11 spot for criminal justice studies value this year. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,144, with out-of-state students paying around $41,891. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $19,464. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $35,572. That is a strong return on a $19,464 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Trine University Fort Wayne Regional Campus earned the #12 position for value in criminal justice studies this year. Located in the town of Angola, Trine University Fort Wayne Regional Campus is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,176. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $37,841. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice studies schools. Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global is a large private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Marion. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,648. Students borrow a median of $29,738 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global earn a median of $46,154 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Calumet College Of Saint Joseph placed #14 among the best values for criminal justice studies. Set in the suburb of Whiting, Calumet College Of Saint Joseph is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $23,850 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,856 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $55,587. That is a strong return on a $23,856 median debt.
Indiana Institute Of Technology College Of Professional Studies came in at #15 for value in criminal justice studies this year. Set in the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana Institute Of Technology College Of Professional Studies is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,896. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $37,273. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Indiana Institute Of Technology College Of Professional Studies earn a median of $35,419 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $37,273 median debt.
Indiana Wesleyan University came in at #16 for value in criminal justice studies this year. Located in the town of Marion, Indiana Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $32,352 in tuition and fees. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $29,738 in student loans. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Indiana Wesleyan University earn a median of $46,154 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,738 median debt. Indiana Wesleyan University admits about 89% of applicants.
Indiana Institute Of Technology came in at #17 for value in criminal justice studies this year. Set in the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $31,361 in tuition and fees. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $37,273 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Indiana Institute Of Technology generally make around $35,419. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Trine University earned the #18 position for value in criminal justice studies this year. Trine University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Angola. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $36,560. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Trine University generally make around $37,841. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 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.
