2027 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in Michigan
[Criminal Justice & Corrections](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong criminal justice & corrections education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 35 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for criminal justice & corrections students.
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2027 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in Michigan
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in criminal justice & corrections, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools
For return on investment in criminal justice & corrections, no school beat Macomb Community College this year. Located in the city of Warren, Macomb Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,660, while out-of-state students pay about $8,370. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $6,964 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $38,758. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice & corrections will find it at Schoolcraft College, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Livonia, Schoolcraft College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,799 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,501. Students borrow a median of $11,868 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Schoolcraft College earn a median of $49,224 early in their careers. Set against $11,868 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Henry Ford Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & corrections, landing the #3 spot this year. Henry Ford Community College is a large public school located in the city of Dearborn. In-state tuition and fees average $3,568, compared with $7,816 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $15,200 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $26,336. That is a strong return on a $15,200 median debt.
Washtenaw Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & corrections, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,736, with out-of-state students paying around $6,504. Students borrow a median of $28,059 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $67,732. Set against $28,059 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lansing Community College earned it the #5 place for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the city of Lansing, Lansing Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,100, compared with $11,300 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $16,700. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $46,103. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Delta College came in at #6 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the rural area of University Center, Delta College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,820, while out-of-state students pay about $7,880. Students borrow a median of $9,784 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Delta College earn a median of $44,637 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,784 median debt.
Oakland Community College earned the #7 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the suburb of Auburn Hills, Oakland Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,120 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,560. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $13,506 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Oakland Community College generally make around $51,827. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
St Clair County Community College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the suburb of Port Huron, St Clair County Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,212 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,150. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $16,379 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $32,691. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kellogg Community College earned the #9 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Kellogg Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Battle Creek. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,118, compared with $8,282 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $20,432 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Kellogg Community College earn a median of $32,616 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,432 median debt.
Mott Community College placed #10 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the city of Flint, Mott Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,845 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,460 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $16,781 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Mott Community College earn a median of $34,127 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southwestern Michigan College came in at #11 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Southwestern Michigan College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Dowagiac. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,417, while out-of-state students pay about $8,394. Students borrow a median of $16,575 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Southwestern Michigan College earn a median of $43,153 early in their careers. Set against $16,575 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northwestern Michigan College came in at #12 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Northwestern Michigan College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Traverse City. Students from in state pay about $5,860 in tuition and fees, compared with $13,476 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,694 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $57,015. That is a strong return on a $17,694 median debt.
University Of Michigan Flint earned the #13 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. University Of Michigan Flint is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Flint. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,236, compared with $27,790 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from University Of Michigan Flint generally make around $35,912. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Lake Michigan College earned the #14 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the rural area of Benton Harbor, Lake Michigan College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,445 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,755. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $14,473 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Lake Michigan College earn a median of $50,185 early in their careers. Set against $14,473 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ferris State University earned the #15 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,778. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $21,880. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $48,266. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Jackson Community College came in at #16 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the rural area of Jackson, Jackson Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,350, compared with $10,200 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $16,960 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Jackson Community College generally make around $39,162. That is a strong return on a $16,960 median debt.
Grand Rapids Community College earned the #17 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the city of Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,179 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,219. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $11,851 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Grand Rapids Community College generally make around $53,664. Set against $11,851 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kirtland Community College came in at #18 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the rural area of Grayling, Kirtland Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,190, compared with $9,870 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,333 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Kirtland Community College earn a median of $50,469 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Wayne County Community College District landed the #19 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Located in the city of Detroit, Wayne County Community College District is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,112 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,067. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $20,820. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $48,892. That is a strong return on a $20,820 median debt.
Oakland University ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $17,167 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $24,735. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Oakland University earn a median of $35,705 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Saginaw Valley State University came in at #21 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Saginaw Valley State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of University Center. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,930, with out-of-state students paying around $30,450. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $27,824. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Saginaw Valley State University earn a median of $40,049 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,824 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Bay De Noc Community College ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Bay De Noc Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Escanaba. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,214, with out-of-state students paying around $11,453. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $17,625. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Bay De Noc Community College generally make around $39,075. Set against $17,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wayne State University came in at #23 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,159, with out-of-state students paying around $34,650. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $28,604 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Wayne State University generally make around $46,920. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Lake Superior State University landed the #24 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Set in the town of Sault Ste Marie, Lake Superior State University is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,890. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $18,614 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Lake Superior State University generally make around $44,286. That is a strong return on a $18,614 median debt.
Northern Michigan University placed #25 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Northern Michigan University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Marquette. In-state tuition and fees average $14,322, compared with $19,944 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $17,844 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Northern Michigan University earn a median of $38,518 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northern Michigan University admits about 84% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 35 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in criminal justice & corrections:
More Criminal Justice & Corrections Rankings
View All Criminal Justice & Corrections 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 · 35 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 35 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.
