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2023 Best Value Colleges for Criminal Justice in the Great Lakes Region

36 Ranked Colleges
1,928 Degrees Awarded
$14,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Criminal Justice is the 27th most popular major in the country with 32,891 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 1,928 criminal justice graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking, we looked at 36 colleges that offer a degree in criminal justice. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality criminal justice programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the criminal justice program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important 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 in the Great Lakes Region

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Criminal Justice in the Great Lakes Region

1
Purdue University Global crest
Purdue University Global
Indianapolis, Indiana

Out of the 36 schools in the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Purdue University Global landed the #1 spot on the list. Purdue University Global is a large school located in Indianapolis, Indiana that handed out 73 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region criminal justice students list, Purdue University Global has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking.

Full Purdue University Global Criminal Justice Report

2
Macomb Community College crest
Macomb Community College
Warren, Michigan

Out of the 36 schools in the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Macomb Community College landed the #2 spot on the list. Macomb Community College is a fairly large school located in Warren, Michigan that handed out 33 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

Macomb Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Macomb Community College is $9,982 for great lakes region criminal justice students.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Macomb Community College

3
SWIC crest
Southwestern Illinois College
Belleville, Illinois

Out of the 36 schools in the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Southwestern Illinois College landed the #3 spot on the list. This medium-sized school is located in Belleville, Illinois, and it awarded 43 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

SWIC also took the #16 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Southwestern Illinois College is $6,995 for Great Lakes Region Criminal Justice students.

Full SWIC Criminal Justice Report

4

Out of the 36 schools in the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Western Illinois University landed the #4 spot on the list. Macomb, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s criminal justice degrees to 305 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at WIU, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend WIU is $15,305 for great lakes region criminal justice students.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at WIU

5
Ferris crest
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, Michigan

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Ferris State University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Ferris is a fairly large public school situated in Big Rapids, Michigan. It awarded 66 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region criminal justice students list, Ferris has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $12,213 for Great Lakes Region Criminal Justice students per year to attend Ferris State University.

Full Ferris State University Criminal Justice Report

6
Oakland Community College crest
Oakland Community College
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

With a ranking of #6, Oakland Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, this fairly large public school handed out 27 degrees to qualified ’s criminal justice students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region criminal justice students list, Oakland Community College has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Oakland Community College is $3,665 for Great Lakes Region Criminal Justice students.

Full Oakland Community College Criminal Justice Report

7
Stark State College crest
Stark State College
North Canton, Ohio

Stark State College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Stark State College is a fairly large school located in North Canton, Ohio that handed out 35 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Stark State College, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Stark State College is $5,963 for great lakes region criminal justice students.

Full Stark State College Criminal Justice Report

8

Union Institute & University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Union Institute & University is a small school located in Cincinnati, Ohio that handed out 178 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region criminal justice students list, Union has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Union Institute & University is $19,861 for great lakes region criminal justice students.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Union Institute & University

9
Owens State Community College crest
Owens Community College
Perrysburg, Ohio

Owens Community College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Perrysburg, Ohio is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s criminal justice degrees to 23 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region criminal justice students list, Owens State Community College has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $10,059 for great lakes region criminal justice students per year to attend Owens State Community College.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Owens State Community College

10
Lake Superior State University crest
Lake Superior State University
Sault Ste Marie, Michigan

With a ranking of #10, Lake Superior State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Lake Superior State University is a small public school situated in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan. It awarded 74 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

Lake Superior State University also made our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #8. The estimated yearly cost for Lake Superior State University is $13,668 for Great Lakes Region Criminal Justice students.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Lake Superior State University

11
Henry Ford College crest
Henry Ford College
Dearborn, Michigan

Henry Ford College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Henry Ford College is a fairly large public school situated in Dearborn, Michigan. It awarded 24 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Henry Ford College, the school also landed the #25 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Henry Ford College is $3,194 for Great Lakes Region Criminal Justice students.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Henry Ford College

12

Grand Valley State University landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. GVSU is a large school located in Allendale, Michigan that handed out 156 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

GVSU also made our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #7. It costs about $17,356 for great lakes region criminal justice students per year to attend GVSU.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% 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%.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at GVSU

13

Trine University-Regional/Non-Traditional Campuses did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #13. Located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 28 diplomas to qualified ’s criminal justice students in 2020-2021.

Trine did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Trine

14

University of Akron Main Campus ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Akron, Ohio, this fairly large public school handed out 6 diplomas to qualified ’s criminal justice students in 2020-2021.

University of Akron Main Campus did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $17,945 for great lakes region criminal justice students per year to attend University of Akron Main Campus.

Read more about Criminal Justice at University of Akron Main Campus

15
Northern Michigan University crest
Northern Michigan University
Marquette, Michigan

Northern Michigan University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Northern Michigan University is a medium-sized school located in Marquette, Michigan that handed out 6 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

Northern Michigan University also took the #10 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $15,214 for Great Lakes Region Criminal Justice students per year to attend Northern Michigan University.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Northern Michigan University

16
Aurora crest
Aurora University
Aurora, Illinois

Aurora University landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Aurora, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s criminal justice degrees to 8 students in 2020-2021.

Aurora also made our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #20. The estimated yearly cost for Aurora University is $16,994 for great lakes region criminal justice students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Aurora University Criminal Justice Report

17

Central Ohio Technical College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #17. COTC is a small school located in Newark, Ohio that handed out 8 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $9,990 for Great Lakes Region Criminal Justice students per year to attend Central Ohio Technical College.

Full COTC Criminal Justice Report

18
Franklin University crest
Franklin University
Columbus, Ohio

With a ranking of #18, Franklin University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Franklin University is located in Columbus, Ohio and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 53 ’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region criminal justice students list, Franklin University has also earned the #24 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $7,201 for great lakes region criminal justice students per year to attend Franklin University.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 5.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Franklin University

19
Ashland crest
Ashland University
Ashland, Ohio

Ashland University landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Ashland is located in Ashland, Ohio and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 31 ’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

Ashland also took the #12 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Ashland is $20,974 for Great Lakes Region Criminal Justice students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Ashland

20

Bryant & Stratton College - Wauwatosa ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. This small school is located in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, and it awarded 13 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Bryant & Stratton College - Wauwatosa is $14,667 for Great Lakes Region Criminal Justice students.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Bryant & Stratton College - Wauwatosa

21
Tiffin University crest
Tiffin University
Tiffin, Ohio

Tiffin University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. This small school is located in Tiffin, Ohio, and it awarded 62 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region criminal justice students list, Tiffin University has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Tiffin University is $23,309 for Great Lakes Region Criminal Justice students.

Full Tiffin University Criminal Justice Report

22

DeVry University - Illinois landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out ’s criminal justice degrees to 25 students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend DeVry University - Illinois is $28,983 for Great Lakes Region Criminal Justice students.

Full DeVry University - Illinois Criminal Justice Report

23

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. IUPUI is a large school located in Indianapolis, Indiana that handed out 13 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region criminal justice students list, IUPUI has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for IUPUI is $12,416 for Great Lakes Region Criminal Justice students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% 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%.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

24

Concordia University, Wisconsin ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Mequon, Wisconsin is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s criminal justice degrees to 17 students in 2020-2021.

Concordia University, Wisconsin also took the #9 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Concordia University, Wisconsin is $22,996 for Great Lakes Region Criminal Justice students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Concordia University, Wisconsin

25

Miami University - Hamilton came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Miami University - Hamilton is a public institution located in Hamilton, Ohio. The school has a small population, and it awarded 32 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Miami University - Hamilton is $13,163 for Great Lakes Region Criminal Justice students.

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

Full Miami University - Hamilton Criminal Justice Report

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References

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