2027 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in Michigan
[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 schools below stand out for delivering a strong criminal justice studies education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 14 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for criminal justice studies students.
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2027 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in Michigan
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
For return on investment in criminal justice studies, no school beat Macomb Community College this year. Located in the city of Warren, Macomb Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,660, while out-of-state students pay about $8,370. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $6,964 in student loans. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Macomb Community College earn a median of $38,758 early in their careers. Set against $6,964 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Washtenaw Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice studies schools. Set in the suburb of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,736, while out-of-state students pay about $6,504. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $28,059. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Washtenaw Community College generally make around $67,732. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Southwestern Michigan College earned it the #3 place for criminal justice studies. Set in the rural area of Dowagiac, Southwestern Michigan College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,417, compared with $8,394 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $16,575. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Southwestern Michigan College earn a median of $43,153 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Kellogg Community College earned it the #4 place for criminal justice studies. Set in the city of Battle Creek, Kellogg Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,118, compared with $8,282 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $20,432. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $32,616. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes Saginaw Valley State University one of the best values for criminal justice studies. Set in the suburb of University Center, Saginaw Valley State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,930, while out-of-state students pay about $30,450. Students borrow a median of $27,824 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $40,049. Set against $27,824 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Bay De Noc Community College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice studies schools. Set in the town of Escanaba, Bay De Noc Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,214, compared with $11,453 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $17,625 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Bay De Noc Community College generally make around $39,075. Set against $17,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wayne State University earned the #7 position for value in criminal justice studies this year. Set in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,159, with out-of-state students paying around $34,650. Students borrow a median of $28,604 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Wayne State University earn a median of $46,920 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Northern Michigan University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice studies schools. Located in the town of Marquette, Northern Michigan University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,322, while out-of-state students pay about $19,944. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $17,844. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Northern Michigan University earn a median of $38,518 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 84%.
University Of Detroit Mercy earned the #9 position for value in criminal justice studies this year. University Of Detroit Mercy is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Detroit. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $32,946. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $29,053 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $76,755. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Western Michigan University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice studies schools. Set in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,987, compared with $19,952 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $39,614. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Siena Heights University came in at #11 for value in criminal justice studies this year. Located in the town of Adrian, Siena Heights University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $30,778 in tuition and fees. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $22,250 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $67,009. Set against $22,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Central Michigan University came in at #12 for value in criminal justice studies this year. Set in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,480. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $27,857. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Central Michigan University earn a median of $50,688 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Central Michigan University admits about 90% of applicants.
Madonna University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice studies schools. Madonna University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Livonia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $28,440. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $19,771. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Madonna University earn a median of $36,296 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,771 median debt. The acceptance rate is 63%.
Olivet College earned the #14 position for value in criminal justice studies this year. Olivet College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Olivet. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,068. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $48,328. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 83%.
More Criminal Justice Studies Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
