2026 Best Criminal Justice Studies Schools in Michigan
Criminal Justice Studies is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 16 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best criminal justice studies schools.
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Best Schools for Criminal Justice Studies in Michigan
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall criminal justice studies education in Michigan.
Top Schools in Criminal Justice Studies
Leading the list is University Of Detroit Mercy, our #1 school for criminal justice studies. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Detroit. University Of Detroit Mercy graduates 67% of students within six years. University Of Detroit Mercy awarded about 14 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $76,755 in their early career. University Of Detroit Mercy graduates carry a median of $29,053 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at University Of Detroit Mercy
Siena Heights University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Siena Heights University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Adrian. Siena Heights University graduates 39% of students within six years. There were roughly 29 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Siena Heights University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Siena Heights University generally make around $67,009. Typical student debt for the program is $22,250.
More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Siena Heights University
Central Michigan University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Central Michigan University is a large public school located in the town of Mount Pleasant. About 59% of students finish within six years. Central Michigan University awarded about 30 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Central Michigan University generally make around $50,688. Typical student debt for the program is $27,857.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Central Michigan University
Northern Michigan University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the town of Marquette, Northern Michigan University is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. Northern Michigan University awarded about 61 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $38,518 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,844.
See the full criminal justice studies program report for Northern Michigan University
A rank of #5 makes Western Michigan University one of the top schools for criminal justice studies. Located in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public university. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 56 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Western Michigan University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $39,614 in their early career. Western Michigan University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Get the full criminal justice studies details for Western Michigan University
Madonna University earned the #6 position for criminal justice studies this year. Madonna University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Livonia. Madonna University graduates 60% of students within six years. About 52 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Madonna University in the most recent year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Madonna University earn a median of $36,296 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,771.
See the full criminal justice studies program report for Madonna University
Wayne State University earned the #7 position for criminal justice studies this year. Wayne State University is a very large public school located in the city of Detroit. About 58% of students finish within six years. Wayne State University awarded about 140 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $46,920 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $28,604 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Wayne State University
Saginaw Valley State University placed #8 among the best criminal justice studies schools. Saginaw Valley State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of University Center. Saginaw Valley State University graduates 48% of students within six years. Saginaw Valley State University awarded about 63 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $40,049 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,824 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice studies program report for Saginaw Valley State University
Washtenaw Community College earned the #9 position for criminal justice studies this year. Washtenaw Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Ann Arbor. About 35 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Washtenaw Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $67,732 in their early career. Washtenaw Community College graduates carry a median of $28,059 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice studies program report for Washtenaw Community College
Olivet College came in at #10 for criminal justice studies this year. Set in the rural area of Olivet, Olivet College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 35% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 16 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Olivet College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Olivet College earn around $48,328 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Olivet College
Southwestern Michigan College placed #11 among the best criminal justice studies schools. Set in the rural area of Dowagiac, Southwestern Michigan College is a mid-sized public institution. Southwestern Michigan College awarded about 16 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Southwestern Michigan College earn a median of $43,153 early in their careers. Southwestern Michigan College graduates carry a median of $16,575 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Southwestern Michigan College
Bay De Noc Community College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Escanaba. Bay De Noc Community College awarded about 20 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Bay De Noc Community College generally make around $39,075. Bay De Noc Community College graduates carry a median of $17,625 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Bay De Noc Community College
More Criminal Justice Studies Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 16 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.