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2022 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region

30 Ranked Colleges
741 Degrees Awarded
$8,300 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2019-2020, 33,568 people earned their degree in criminal justice, making the major the 32nd most popular in the United States.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 2,365 criminal justice graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 741 criminal justice graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,508 and $17,812 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 30 colleges that offer a degree in criminal justice. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great criminal justice programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the criminal justice program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region associate degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region

#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Eastern Gateway Community College. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Eastern Gateway Community College is a large school located in Steubenville, Ohio that handed out 368 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Eastern Gateway Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Eastern Gateway Community College is $2,845 for great lakes region associate degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Eastern Gateway Community College

#2

Oakland Community College

Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Oakland Community College. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, this fairly large public school handed out 20 degrees to qualified associates’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Oakland Community College, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $-51 for great lakes region associate degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Oakland Community College. When an average net price is negative, it usually means that the student will receive more financial aid than it costs to attend the school.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Oakland Community College

#3

Henry Ford College

Dearborn, Michigan
#9 in overall quality

Out of the 30 schools in the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Henry Ford College landed the #3 spot on the list. Dearborn, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s criminal justice degrees to 33 students in 2019-2020.

Henry Ford College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Henry Ford College is $2,460 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Henry Ford College

#4

St Clair County Community College

Port Huron, Michigan
#17 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend St Clair County Community College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. This small school is located in Port Huron, Michigan, and it awarded 26 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region associate degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k list, SC4 has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $2,603 for great lakes region associate degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend SC4.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at SC4

#5

Triton College

River Grove, Illinois
#13 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Triton College. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Triton College is a medium-sized public school situated in River Grove, Illinois. It awarded 17 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Triton College, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $4,546 for great lakes region associate degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Triton College.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Triton College

#6

Lake Superior State University

Sault Ste Marie, Michigan
#4 in overall quality

Lake Superior State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. Lake Superior State University is a public institution located in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan. The school has a small population, and it awarded 25 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Lake Superior State University also took the #4 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Lake Superior State University is $7,067 for great lakes region associate degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Lake Superior State University

#7

Southwestern Illinois College

Belleville, Illinois
#12 in overall quality

Southwestern Illinois College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Southwestern Illinois College is a medium-sized school located in Belleville, Illinois that handed out 21 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

SWIC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend SWIC is $5,506 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Southwestern Illinois College

#8

Alpena Community College

Alpena, Michigan

Alpena Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #8. Alpena Community College is a small school located in Alpena, Michigan that handed out 4 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Alpena Community College is $845 for great lakes region associate degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Alpena Community College Criminal Justice Report

#9

Macomb Community College

Warren, Michigan
#5 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, Macomb Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Warren, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s criminal justice degrees to 19 students in 2019-2020.

Macomb Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Macomb Community College is $8,724 for great lakes region associate degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Macomb Community College Criminal Justice Report

#10

Northern Michigan University

Marquette, Michigan
#6 in overall quality

Northern Michigan University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. Located in Marquette, Michigan, this medium-sized public school awarded 7 diplomas to qualified associates’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

Northern Michigan University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Northern Michigan University is $9,137 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Northern Michigan University

#11

Bay de Noc Community College

Escanaba, Michigan
#16 in overall quality

Bay de Noc Community College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Bay College is a public institution located in Escanaba, Michigan. The school has a small population, and it awarded 11 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Bay College also made our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #16. The estimated yearly cost for Bay de Noc Community College is $6,419 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Bay de Noc Community College

#12

Owens Community College

Perrysburg, Ohio
#11 in overall quality

Owens Community College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Perrysburg, Ohio, this medium-sized public school awarded 16 diplomas to qualified associates’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Owens State Community College, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Owens Community College is $6,889 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Owens Community College

#13

Stark State College

North Canton, Ohio
#21 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, Stark State College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in North Canton, Ohio, and it awarded 23 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Stark State College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $6,491 for great lakes region associate degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Stark State College.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Stark State College

#14

Northwestern Michigan College

Traverse City, Michigan
#24 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, Northwestern Michigan College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Northwestern Michigan College is a small public school situated in Traverse City, Michigan. It awarded 8 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at NMC, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Northwestern Michigan College is $8,776 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Criminal Justice at NMC

#15

Kaskaskia College

Centralia, Illinois
#22 in overall quality

Kaskaskia College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Kaskaskia College is a small public school situated in Centralia, Illinois. It awarded 17 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Kaskaskia College, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Kaskaskia College is $6,215 for great lakes region associate degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Kaskaskia College Criminal Justice Report

#16

Kellogg Community College

Battle Creek, Michigan
#23 in overall quality

Kellogg Community College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Kellogg Community College is located in Battle Creek, Michigan and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 associates’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

Kellogg Community College also took the #23 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $6,933 for great lakes region associate degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Kellogg Community College.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Kellogg Community College

#19 in overall quality

Central Ohio Technical College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Newark, Ohio, this small public school handed out 9 degrees to qualified associates’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

COTC also took the #19 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $7,747 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend COTC.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Central Ohio Technical College

#18

Miami University - Middletown

Middletown, Ohio
#25 in overall quality

Miami University - Middletown came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Middletown, Ohio, and it awarded 1 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Miami University - Middletown, the school also landed the #25 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Miami University - Middletown is $11,810 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Miami University - Middletown

#20 in overall quality

Miami University - Hamilton did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #19. Located in Hamilton, Ohio, this small public school awarded 4 diplomas to qualified associates’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

Miami University - Hamilton also made our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #20. It costs about $8,993 for great lakes region associate degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Miami University - Hamilton.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Miami University - Hamilton

Calumet College of Saint Joseph landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. CCSJ is located in Whiting, Indiana and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 associates’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for CCSJ is $8,230 for great lakes region associate degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Calumet College of Saint Joseph Criminal Justice Report

#14 in overall quality

University of Akron Main Campus ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Akron Main Campus is located in Akron, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 17 associates’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region associate degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k list, University of Akron Main Campus has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Akron Main Campus is $14,816 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full University of Akron Main Campus Criminal Justice Report

#22

Trine University

Angola, Indiana
#8 in overall quality

Trine University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Trine University is located in Angola, Indiana and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3 associates’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region associate degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k list, Trine has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Trine is $19,700 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 4.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Trine Criminal Justice Report

#23

Ashland University

Ashland, Ohio
#2 in overall quality

Ashland University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Ashland, Ohio, and it awarded 3 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Ashland not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Ashland University is $15,675 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Ashland University

#24

Concordia University, Wisconsin

Mequon, Wisconsin
#10 in overall quality

With a ranking of #24, Concordia University, Wisconsin did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Concordia University, Wisconsin is located in Mequon, Wisconsin and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 associates’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region associate degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k list, Concordia University, Wisconsin has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $20,297 for great lakes region associate degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Concordia University, Wisconsin.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Concordia University, Wisconsin

#18 in overall quality

Bryant & Stratton College - Wauwatosa ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, and it awarded 12 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Bryant & Stratton College - Wauwatosa also took the #18 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Bryant & Stratton College - Wauwatosa is $13,951 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Bryant & Stratton College - Wauwatosa

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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