2027 Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Criminal Justice programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 33 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for criminal justice students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Criminal Justice in the Great Lakes Region
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 degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Criminal Justice
No school ranked higher than Michigan State University this year for criminal justice. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 81% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 227 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Michigan State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $57,913. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice program report for Michigan State University
Students looking for a strong criminal justice program will find one at Aurora University, which ranked #2. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Aurora. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. About 13 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Aurora University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Aurora University generally make around $44,150. Typical student debt for the program is $23,635.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Aurora University
Grand Valley State University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice schools. Grand Valley State University is a very large public school located in the town of Allendale. Grand Valley State University graduates 67% of students within six years. Grand Valley State University awarded about 109 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $39,857 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Grand Valley State University
Students looking for a strong criminal justice program will find one at Ferris State University, which ranked #4. Located in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris State University is a large public university. Ferris State University graduates 56% of students within six years. About 22 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Ferris State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Ferris State University generally make around $48,266. Ferris State University graduates carry a median of $21,880 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Ferris State University
A rank of #5 makes Western Illinois University one of the top schools for criminal justice. Located in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public university. About 45% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 188 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Western Illinois University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $45,140 in their early career. Western Illinois University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
Get the full criminal justice details for Western Illinois University
Lake Superior State University came in at #6 for criminal justice this year. This small public university is located in the town of Sault Ste Marie. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. There were roughly 51 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Lake Superior State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $44,286 in their early career. Lake Superior State University graduates carry a median of $18,614 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice program report for Lake Superior State University
Macomb Community College came in at #7 for criminal justice this year. Macomb Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Warren. About 25 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Macomb Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Macomb Community College generally make around $38,758. Typical student debt for the program is $6,964.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Macomb Community College
Oakland Community College earned the #8 position for criminal justice this year. Located in the suburb of Auburn Hills, Oakland Community College is a very large public university. Oakland Community College awarded about 30 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Oakland Community College earn a median of $51,827 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,506.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Oakland Community College
The University Of Findlay came in at #9 for criminal justice this year. The University Of Findlay is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Findlay. About 58% of students finish within six years. The University Of Findlay awarded about 11 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from The University Of Findlay generally make around $57,676. The University Of Findlay graduates carry a median of $25,759 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice program at The University Of Findlay
North Park University placed #10 among the best criminal justice schools. Located in the city of Chicago, North Park University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 14 criminal justice degrees were awarded at North Park University in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $43,519 in their early career. North Park University graduates carry a median of $27,360 in student loans.
Get the full criminal justice details for North Park University
University Of Southern Indiana landed the #11 spot for criminal justice this year. Set in the suburb of Evansville, University Of Southern Indiana is a large public institution. Roughly 48% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 11 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern Indiana in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from University Of Southern Indiana generally make around $39,384. Students borrow a median of $20,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from University Of Southern Indiana
Owens Community College came in at #12 for criminal justice this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Perrysburg. There were roughly 17 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Owens Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $51,319 in their early career. Owens Community College graduates carry a median of $15,663 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice program at Owens Community College
Carthage College placed #13 among the best criminal justice schools. Set in the city of Kenosha, Carthage College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 64% of students finish within six years. About 18 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Carthage College in the most recent year. Criminal Justice graduates of Carthage College earn a median of $39,551 early in their careers. Carthage College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Carthage College
Franklin University placed #14 among the best criminal justice schools. Franklin University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Columbus. Franklin University graduates 3% of students within six years. There were roughly 101 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Franklin University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Franklin University earn around $38,103 in the first couple years of their career. Franklin University graduates carry a median of $28,750 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice program at Franklin University
Southwestern Illinois College placed #15 among the best criminal justice schools. Located in the suburb of Belleville, Southwestern Illinois College is a large public university. There were roughly 24 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Southwestern Illinois College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Southwestern Illinois College generally make around $44,345. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice program at Southwestern Illinois College
Northcentral Technical College landed the #16 spot for criminal justice this year. Set in the city of Wausau, Northcentral Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 21 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Northcentral Technical College in the most recent year. Criminal Justice graduates of Northcentral Technical College earn a median of $49,533 early in their careers. Northcentral Technical College graduates carry a median of $14,250 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice program report for Northcentral Technical College
Elmhurst College came in at #17 for criminal justice this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Elmhurst. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 17 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Elmhurst College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Elmhurst College generally make around $38,352. Elmhurst College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice program report for Elmhurst College
Ashland University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice schools. Ashland University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Ashland. Ashland University graduates 60% of students within six years. Ashland University awarded about 25 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Ashland University earn a median of $42,172 early in their careers. Ashland University graduates carry a median of $29,406 in student loans.
Get the full criminal justice details for Ashland University
Tiffin University came in at #19 for criminal justice this year. Located in the town of Tiffin, Tiffin University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 40% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 36 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Tiffin University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $53,145 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $30,758 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Tiffin University
Bradley University earned the #20 position for criminal justice this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Peoria. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. About 12 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Bradley University in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Bradley University earn around $54,513 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Read more about the criminal justice program at Bradley University
Triton College placed #21 among the best criminal justice schools. Set in the suburb of River Grove, Triton College is a large public institution. Triton College awarded about 186 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Triton College generally make around $43,278. Typical student debt for the program is $12,994.
Get the full criminal justice details for Triton College
Purdue University Global earned the #22 position for criminal justice this year. This very large public university is located in the city of West Lafayette. About 33% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 33 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Purdue University Global in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Purdue University Global earn a median of $52,005 early in their careers. Purdue University Global graduates carry a median of $25,137 in student loans.
Get the full criminal justice details for Purdue University Global
Miami University Hamilton earned the #23 position for criminal justice this year. Located in the suburb of Hamilton, Miami University Hamilton is a mid-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 24%. About 29 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Miami University Hamilton in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Miami University Hamilton generally make around $36,612. Miami University Hamilton graduates carry a median of $23,505 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice program report for Miami University Hamilton
Indiana University East ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice schools. Located in the town of Richmond, Indiana University East is a moderately-sized public university. Indiana University East graduates 39% of students within six years. Indiana University East awarded about 36 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Indiana University East earn around $45,204 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $28,686.
Get the full criminal justice details for Indiana University East
Carroll University placed #25 among the best criminal justice schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Waukesha. About 71% of students finish within six years. Carroll University awarded about 12 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $38,101 in their early career. Carroll University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice program at Carroll University
Rest of the Top 33 Criminal Justice Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s criminal justice ranking:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 33 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.
