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2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

28 Ranked Colleges
594 Degrees Awarded
$21,600 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2019-2020, 113,581 criminal justice and corrections students received their degree, making the major the 6th most popular in the country. In 2017-2018, criminal justice and corrections graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $31,952 and had an average of $24,936 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 13,233 criminal justice and corrections graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,369 and $24,187 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 594 criminal justice and corrections graduates with average earnings and debt of $57,039 and $42,488 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking looked at 28 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in criminal justice and corrections. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great criminal justice and corrections programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the criminal justice and corrections program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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 for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that 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 a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region master’s degree criminal justice students with aid.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice & Corrections in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)

#1

Franklin University

Columbus, Ohio
#22 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Franklin University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. Franklin University is a medium-sized school located in Columbus, Ohio that handed out 13 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Franklin University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Franklin University are $16,080, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Franklin University

#2

University of Wisconsin - Platteville

Platteville, Wisconsin

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Platteville. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Platteville, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school awarded 39 diplomas to qualified masters’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

UW - Platteville also made our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #6. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Platteville are $18,226, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at UW - Platteville

#3

Governors State University

University Park, Illinois
#24 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Governors State University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in University Park, Illinois, this small public school handed out 6 diplomas to qualified masters’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree criminal justice students with aid list, GSU has also earned the #24 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Governors State University are $14,674, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full GSU Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#8 in overall quality

Out of the 28 schools in the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Chicago landed the #4 spot on the list. University of Illinois at Chicago is a public institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 9 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UIC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UIC are $27,036, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UIC Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#5

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 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in Big Rapids, Michigan, and it awarded 24 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Ferris also made our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #12. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Ferris State University are $7,908.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Ferris

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and it awarded 20 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

IUPUI also took the #14 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis are $26,013, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full IUPUI Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#19 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, University of Michigan - Dearborn did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Dearborn, Michigan is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s criminal justice degrees to 11 students in 2019-2020.

UM Dearborn also made our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #19. Average graduate tuition and fees at UM Dearborn are $25,072, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Michigan - Dearborn Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#17 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. UWM is a large school located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that handed out 12 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

UWM also made our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #17. Average graduate tuition and fees at UWM are $25,295, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

#9

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan

Michigan State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #9. Michigan State University is a large public school situated in East Lansing, Michigan. It awarded 12 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree criminal justice students with aid list, Michigan State has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan State are $37,056, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Michigan State

#10

Miami University - Middletown

Middletown, Ohio

Miami University - Middletown ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Middletown, Ohio is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s criminal justice degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

Miami University - Middletown also made our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #0. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Miami University - Middletown are $16,484.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Miami University - Middletown

#11

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois

Western Illinois University landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Macomb, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s criminal justice degrees to 49 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree criminal justice students with aid list, WIU has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at WIU are $11,996, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Western Illinois University Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

Miami University - Hamilton did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #12. Miami University - Hamilton is a small public school situated in Hamilton, Ohio. It awarded 1 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Miami University - Hamilton also took the #0 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Miami University - Hamilton are $16,484.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Miami University - Hamilton

#13

Youngstown State University

Youngstown, Ohio
#25 in overall quality

Youngstown State University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Youngstown State University is a public institution located in Youngstown, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 8 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree criminal justice students with aid list, Youngstown State University has also earned the #25 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Youngstown State University are $9,495, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Youngstown State University

#14

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, Michigan
#15 in overall quality

Grand Valley State University landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Grand Valley State University is a large school located in Allendale, Michigan that handed out 5 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

GVSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at GVSU are $17,448.

Full Grand Valley State University Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#21 in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a fairly large public school situated in Edwardsville, Illinois. It awarded 4 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

SIUE also made our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #21. Average graduate tuition and fees at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville are $9,300, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

#16

Lewis University

Romeoville, Illinois

Lewis University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Lewis University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Romeoville, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 45 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Lewis also made our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #4. Average graduate tuition and fees at Lewis are $14,780, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Lewis

#17

Wayne State University

Detroit, Michigan

Wayne State University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Wayne State University is located in Detroit, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 17 masters’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Wayne State University are $37,215, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Wayne State University

#18

Chicago State University

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago State University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Chicago State University is a small school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 12 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Chicago State University are $15,056, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Chicago State University

#19

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois
#11 in overall quality

Illinois State University landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Normal, Illinois, this large public school awarded 7 diplomas to qualified masters’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree criminal justice students with aid list, Illinois State has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Illinois State University are $11,069.

Full Illinois State Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#20

University of Toledo

Toledo, Ohio
#18 in overall quality

University of Toledo did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #20. University of Toledo is a fairly large public school situated in Toledo, Ohio. It awarded 12 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

University of Toledo also took the #18 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Toledo are $27,067, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at University of Toledo

University of Cincinnati - Main Campus landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Cincinnati, Ohio, this large public school awarded 121 degrees to qualified masters’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

UC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Cincinnati - Main Campus are $26,644, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at UC

Wright State University - Main Campus landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Wright State University - Main Campus is a public institution located in Dayton, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 3 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Wright State University - Main Campus not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #0 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Wright State University - Main Campus are $24,286, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Wright State University - Main Campus Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

Kent State University at Kent came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Kent State University at Kent is a large school located in Kent, Ohio that handed out 17 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree criminal justice students with aid list, Kent State has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Kent State are $21,952, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Kent State University at Kent

#24

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois

With a ranking of #24, University of Chicago did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 29 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UChicago also made our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #1. Average graduate tuition and fees at UChicago are $61,548, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at University of Chicago

#25

Tiffin University

Tiffin, Ohio
#16 in overall quality

Tiffin University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #25. Tiffin, Ohio is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s criminal justice degrees to 16 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Tiffin University, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Tiffin University are $13,000, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Tiffin University Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

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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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