2027 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Ohio
[Criminal Justice](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/criminal-justice/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong criminal justice education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 13 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for criminal justice students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Ohio
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the criminal justice degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Criminal Justice Schools
For return on investment in criminal justice, no school beat Stark State College this year. Located in the suburb of North Canton, Stark State College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,790, compared with $7,886 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $16,350. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Stark State College generally make around $35,014. That is a strong return on a $16,350 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Washington State Community College earned it the #2 place for criminal justice. Set in the town of Marietta, Washington State Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,128, while out-of-state students pay about $4,152. Students borrow a median of $16,291 to complete the criminal justice program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Washington State Community College generally make around $45,305. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Central Ohio Technical College earned it the #3 place for criminal justice. Located in the suburb of Newark, Central Ohio Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,256, compared with $8,016 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,779 to complete the criminal justice program here. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $40,065. Set against $16,779 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Owens Community College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice schools. Located in the suburb of Perrysburg, Owens Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,870, with out-of-state students paying around $10,502. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $15,663 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Owens Community College generally make around $51,319. Set against $15,663 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Zane State College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the town of Zanesville, Zane State College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,006, compared with $11,766 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $8,556 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $35,764. Set against $8,556 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Miami University Hamilton earned the #6 position for value in criminal justice this year. Located in the suburb of Hamilton, Miami University Hamilton is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $7,012 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,811. Students borrow a median of $23,505 to complete the criminal justice program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Miami University Hamilton generally make around $36,612. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Clark State Community College placed #7 among the best values for criminal justice. Set in the city of Springfield, Clark State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,393 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,049. Students borrow a median of $15,522 to complete the criminal justice program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Clark State Community College generally make around $39,734. Set against $15,522 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northwest State Community College earned the #8 position for value in criminal justice this year. Set in the rural area of Archbold, Northwest State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,698, with out-of-state students paying around $9,170. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $11,565 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $45,123. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Akron Main Campus placed #9 among the best values for criminal justice. University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public school located in the city of Akron. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,135, compared with $20,815 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $21,313 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $36,821. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Ashland University earned the #10 position for value in criminal justice this year. Ashland University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Ashland. Students from in state pay about $31,210 in tuition and fees. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $29,406 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $42,172. Set against $29,406 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Franklin University earned the #11 position for value in criminal justice this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Franklin University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,577. Students borrow a median of $28,750 to complete the criminal justice program here. Criminal Justice graduates of Franklin University earn a median of $38,103 early in their careers. Set against $28,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tiffin University placed #12 among the best values for criminal justice. Set in the town of Tiffin, Tiffin University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,790. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $30,758 in student loans. Criminal Justice graduates of Tiffin University earn a median of $53,145 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $30,758 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Findlay ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice schools. Located in the town of Findlay, The University Of Findlay is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $41,164 in tuition and fees. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $25,759 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $57,676. Set against $25,759 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 83%.
More Criminal Justice Rankings
View All Criminal Justice Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 ranked schools only.
- 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.
