2027 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in Indiana

[Criminal Justice & Corrections](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 22 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for criminal justice & corrections students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in Indiana
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the criminal justice & corrections degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools
Purdue University Northwest tops our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools in Indiana. Set in the suburb of Hammond, Purdue University Northwest is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,357 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,504. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $25,083 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Purdue University Northwest generally make around $51,424. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice & corrections will find it at Indiana University Kokomo, which ranked #2. Indiana University Kokomo is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Kokomo. In-state tuition and fees average $8,424, compared with $22,811 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $25,000. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Indiana University Kokomo earn a median of $39,833 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University Northwest is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & corrections, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Gary, Indiana University Northwest is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,424 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,811. Students borrow a median of $24,471 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Indiana University Northwest earn a median of $41,295 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,471 median debt. The acceptance rate is 73%.
Purdue University Global is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & corrections, landing the #4 spot this year. Purdue University Global is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,101, compared with $14,412 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $25,137 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Purdue University Global generally make around $52,005. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Ivy Tech Community College earned it the #5 place for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,154, compared with $9,935 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $14,215 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Ivy Tech Community College generally make around $33,881. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earned the #6 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,762, while out-of-state students pay about $34,891. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $20,300. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis generally make around $46,011. That is a strong return on a $20,300 median debt. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis admits about 76% of applicants.
Indiana University Southeast ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Indiana University Southeast is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of New Albany. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,424, with out-of-state students paying around $22,811. Students borrow a median of $23,950 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Indiana University Southeast earn a median of $41,898 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University East landed the #8 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Indiana University East is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Richmond. In-state tuition and fees average $8,424, compared with $22,811 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $28,686. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Indiana University East generally make around $45,204. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 67%.
Vincennes University landed the #9 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Located in the town of Vincennes, Vincennes University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,126, compared with $16,858 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $17,587 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Vincennes University earn a median of $40,696 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Indiana University South Bend placed #10 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Located in the city of South Bend, Indiana University South Bend is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,424, with out-of-state students paying around $22,811. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $17,275. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Indiana University South Bend generally make around $35,462. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 84%.
University Of Southern Indiana earned the #11 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. University Of Southern Indiana is a large public school located in the suburb of Evansville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,066, compared with $22,907 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,000 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from University Of Southern Indiana generally make around $39,384. Set against $20,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Ball State University earned the #12 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,082, with out-of-state students paying around $29,630. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $23,367 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Ball State University earn a median of $39,991 early in their careers. Set against $23,367 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ball State University admits about 86% of applicants.
Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne came in at #13 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Fort Wayne. In-state tuition and fees average $9,532, compared with $22,887 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $36,059. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University Bloomington earned the #14 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,144, with out-of-state students paying around $41,891. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $19,464. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $35,572. That is a strong return on a $19,464 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Trine University Fort Wayne Regional Campus landed the #15 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Trine University Fort Wayne Regional Campus is a large private not-for-profit school located in the town of Angola. In-state tuition and fees average $7,176. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Trine University Fort Wayne Regional Campus generally make around $37,841. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Trine University Fort Wayne Regional Campus admits about 40% of applicants.
Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the rural area of Marion, Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $9,648 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $29,738. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $46,154. That is a strong return on a $29,738 median debt.
University Of Indianapolis earned the #17 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. University Of Indianapolis is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Indianapolis. Students from in state pay about $37,200 in tuition and fees. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $26,324 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of University Of Indianapolis earn a median of $44,418 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Indianapolis admits about 66% of applicants.
Indiana Institute Of Technology College Of Professional Studies ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Indiana Institute Of Technology College Of Professional Studies is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fort Wayne. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,896. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $37,273 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Indiana Institute Of Technology College Of Professional Studies generally make around $35,419. Set against $37,273 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Calumet College Of Saint Joseph came in at #19 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the suburb of Whiting, Calumet College Of Saint Joseph is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $23,850. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $23,856. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Calumet College Of Saint Joseph generally make around $55,587. Set against $23,856 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Indiana Wesleyan University placed #20 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Indiana Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Marion. Students from in state pay about $32,352 in tuition and fees. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $29,738 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Indiana Wesleyan University earn a median of $46,154 early in their careers. Set against $29,738 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana Institute Of Technology placed #21 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Indiana Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fort Wayne. Students from in state pay about $31,361 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $37,273 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Indiana Institute Of Technology earn a median of $35,419 early in their careers. Set against $37,273 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Trine University landed the #22 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Trine University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Angola. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $36,560. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Trine University earn a median of $37,841 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
More Criminal Justice & Corrections Rankings
View All Criminal Justice & Corrections Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 22 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 22 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.