by our College Data Analytics Team
[Criminal Justice Studies](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/criminal-justice-studies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong criminal justice studies education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 21 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for criminal justice studies students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in criminal justice studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Gateway Technical College earned the #1 spot for value among criminal justice studies schools in Wisconsin. Gateway Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Kenosha. In-state tuition and fees average $4,956, compared with $7,199 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $16,084. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $56,350. That is a strong return on a $16,084 median debt.
Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice studies schools. Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Rice Lake. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,926, while out-of-state students pay about $7,169. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $10,252 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College generally make around $44,966. That is a strong return on a $10,252 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Waukesha County Technical College earned it the #3 place for criminal justice studies. Located in the suburb of Pewaukee, Waukesha County Technical College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,803, compared with $7,046 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $16,813. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $55,353. That is a strong return on a $16,813 median debt.
Milwaukee Area Technical College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice studies schools. Milwaukee Area Technical College is a very large public school located in the city of Milwaukee. Students from in state pay about $5,184 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,427. Students borrow a median of $18,082 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $38,027. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Wisconsin Parkside earned it the #5 place for criminal justice studies. Located in the rural area of Kenosha, University Of Wisconsin Parkside is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,270, with out-of-state students paying around $17,429. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $20,745. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of University Of Wisconsin Parkside earn a median of $42,342 early in their careers. Set against $20,745 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Blackhawk Technical College came in at #6 for value in criminal justice studies this year. Set in the suburb of Janesville, Blackhawk Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,747, compared with $6,803 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $14,937 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $54,417. That is a strong return on a $14,937 median debt.
Mid State Technical College placed #7 among the best values for criminal justice studies. Set in the town of Wisconsin Rapids, Mid State Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,002, with out-of-state students paying around $7,171. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $13,500 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $41,678. Set against $13,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northcentral Technical College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice studies schools. Set in the city of Wausau, Northcentral Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,889, while out-of-state students pay about $7,132. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $14,250. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Northcentral Technical College earn a median of $49,533 early in their careers. Set against $14,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Western Technical College La Cross placed #9 among the best values for criminal justice studies. Located in the city of La Crosse, Western Technical College La Cross is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,820, with out-of-state students paying around $7,078. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $15,494. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Western Technical College La Cross earn a median of $59,276 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,494 median debt.
University Of Wisconsin Platteville came in at #10 for value in criminal justice studies this year. Located in the town of Platteville, University Of Wisconsin Platteville is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,644, compared with $17,603 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of University Of Wisconsin Platteville earn a median of $48,228 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Platteville admits about 89% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh came in at #11 for value in criminal justice studies this year. Located in the city of Oshkosh, University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,532, with out-of-state students paying around $16,446. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh generally make around $39,394. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh admits about 86% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee landed the #12 spot for criminal justice studies value this year. Located in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,398 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,398 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,715 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $38,640. Set against $25,715 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire landed the #13 spot for criminal justice studies value this year. Set in the city of Eau Claire, University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,642 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,228. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire generally make around $41,258. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Marian University Wisconsin placed #14 among the best values for criminal justice studies. Located in the city of Fond Du Lac, Marian University Wisconsin is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,204. Students borrow a median of $27,242 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Marian University Wisconsin generally make around $72,102. That is a strong return on a $27,242 median debt. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Concordia University Wisconsin earned the #15 position for value in criminal justice studies this year. Set in the suburb of Mequon, Concordia University Wisconsin is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,470. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $27,000. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $41,527. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.