2027 Best Criminal Justice Studies Schools in Michigan
Criminal Justice Studies is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their criminal justice studies programs.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 12 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for criminal justice studies students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Criminal Justice Studies in Michigan
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the criminal justice studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Criminal Justice Studies
University Of Detroit Mercy is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in criminal justice studies. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Detroit. About 67% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 15 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Detroit Mercy in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $76,755 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $29,053.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at University Of Detroit Mercy
Central Michigan University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice studies, landing the #2 spot this year. This large public university is located in the town of Mount Pleasant. Central Michigan University graduates 59% of students within six years. About 43 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Central Michigan University in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $50,688 in their early career. Central Michigan University graduates carry a median of $27,857 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Central Michigan University
Siena Heights University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice studies, ranking #3. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Adrian. The six-year graduation rate is 39%. Siena Heights University awarded about 25 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Siena Heights University generally make around $67,009. Students borrow a median of $22,250 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Siena Heights University
Students looking for a strong criminal justice studies program will find one at Northern Michigan University, which ranked #4. Set in the town of Marquette, Northern Michigan University is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 56 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Northern Michigan University in the most recent year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Northern Michigan University earn a median of $38,518 early in their careers. Northern Michigan University graduates carry a median of $17,844 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice studies program report for Northern Michigan University
Western Michigan University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice studies, ranking #5. This large public university is located in the city of Kalamazoo. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 60 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Western Michigan University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Western Michigan University generally make around $39,614. Western Michigan University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Western Michigan University
Madonna University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. Located in the city of Livonia, Madonna University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. There were roughly 67 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Madonna University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Madonna University generally make around $36,296. Madonna University graduates carry a median of $19,771 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Madonna University
Wayne State University landed the #7 spot for criminal justice studies this year. Set in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 122 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Wayne State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $46,920 in their early career. Wayne State University graduates carry a median of $28,604 in student loans.
Get the full criminal justice studies details for Wayne State University
Saginaw Valley State University landed the #8 spot for criminal justice studies this year. Saginaw Valley State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of University Center. About 48% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 49 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Saginaw Valley State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $40,049 in their early career. Saginaw Valley State University graduates carry a median of $27,824 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Saginaw Valley State University
Washtenaw Community College landed the #9 spot for criminal justice studies this year. Set in the suburb of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Community College is a very large public institution. About 30 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Washtenaw Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Washtenaw Community College earn around $67,732 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $28,059.
Get the full criminal justice studies details for Washtenaw Community College
Olivet College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. Located in the rural area of Olivet, Olivet College is a small private not-for-profit university. About 35% of students finish within six years. Olivet College awarded about 20 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Olivet College generally make around $48,328. Olivet College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice studies program report for Olivet College
Southwestern Michigan College came in at #11 for criminal justice studies this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the rural area of Dowagiac. There were roughly 13 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Southwestern Michigan College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Southwestern Michigan College generally make around $43,153. Students borrow a median of $16,575 to complete this degree.
Get the full criminal justice studies details for Southwestern Michigan College
Bay De Noc Community College earned the #12 position for criminal justice studies this year. Set in the town of Escanaba, Bay De Noc Community College is a mid-sized public institution. About 14 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Bay De Noc Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Bay De Noc Community College earn around $39,075 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,625.
See the full criminal justice studies program report for Bay De Noc Community College
More Criminal Justice Studies Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 12 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.