2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in Ohio
[Criminal Justice & Corrections](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 92 schools to find the best return on investment for criminal justice & corrections students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in Ohio
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
Leading the list is Cuyahoga Community College District, our #1 best value for criminal justice & corrections in Ohio. Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Cleveland. Students from in state pay about $3,249 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,249. Students borrow a median of $7,149 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Cuyahoga Community College District generally make around $38,595. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
North Central State College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the rural area of Mansfield, North Central State College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,786, compared with $11,374 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $10,782. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from North Central State College generally make around $50,218. Set against $10,782 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Marion Technical College one of the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the town of Marion, Marion Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,595, with out-of-state students paying around $11,225. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $11,828. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $48,132. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Sinclair Community College earned it the #4 place for criminal justice & corrections. Sinclair Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Dayton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,675, while out-of-state students pay about $8,556. Students borrow a median of $11,054 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Sinclair Community College earn a median of $29,888 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,054 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Lorain County Community College one of the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Lorain County Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Elyria. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,265, with out-of-state students paying around $8,860. Students borrow a median of $17,611 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Lorain County Community College earn a median of $40,095 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,611 median debt.
Lakeland Community College earned the #6 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Lakeland Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Kirtland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,872, with out-of-state students paying around $9,235. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $19,857. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Lakeland Community College generally make around $51,941. Set against $19,857 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Stark State College earned the #7 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Stark State College is a large public school located in the suburb of North Canton. Students from in state pay about $4,790 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,886 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,350 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Stark State College earn a median of $35,014 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Columbus State Community College came in at #8 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Columbus State Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,488, while out-of-state students pay about $11,224. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $9,041 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $39,435. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College earned the #9 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College is a large public school located in the suburb of Blue Ash. Students from in state pay about $7,106 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,904. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $16,799 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College earn a median of $38,399 early in their careers. Set against $16,799 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Cincinnati Clermont College earned the #10 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the suburb of Batavia, University Of Cincinnati Clermont College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,639, compared with $13,871 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $16,799. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of University Of Cincinnati Clermont College earn a median of $38,399 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Edison State Community College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the rural area of Piqua, Edison State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,499, while out-of-state students pay about $8,346. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $15,406. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Edison State Community College generally make around $43,481. Set against $15,406 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Owens Community College placed #12 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Owens Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Perrysburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,870, while out-of-state students pay about $10,502. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $15,663. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $51,319. Set against $15,663 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Ohio Technical College landed the #13 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Central Ohio Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Newark. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,256, with out-of-state students paying around $8,016. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $16,779. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Central Ohio Technical College earn a median of $40,065 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Clark State Community College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Clark State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Springfield. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,393, compared with $8,049 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $15,522 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Clark State Community College earn a median of $39,734 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Washington State Community College came in at #15 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Washington State Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Marietta. Students from in state pay about $4,128 in tuition and fees, compared with $4,152 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $16,291. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Washington State Community College earn a median of $45,305 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Zane State College placed #16 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Zane State College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Zanesville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,006, compared with $11,766 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,556 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Zane State College earn a median of $35,764 early in their careers. Set against $8,556 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kent State University At Trumbull ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the rural area of Warren, Kent State University At Trumbull is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,211, while out-of-state students pay about $17,969. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $22,843 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Kent State University At Trumbull generally make around $33,980. Set against $22,843 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Youngstown State University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Youngstown State University is a large public school located in the city of Youngstown. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,926, while out-of-state students pay about $10,286. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $24,465. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Youngstown State University earn a median of $37,325 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Youngstown State University admits about 84% of applicants.
Southern State Community College came in at #19 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the town of Hillsboro, Southern State Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,912 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,818. Students borrow a median of $15,282 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $45,611. That is a strong return on a $15,282 median debt.
Hocking College placed #20 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the rural area of Nelsonville, Hocking College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,646 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,290. Students borrow a median of $14,750 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Hocking College generally make around $37,002. That is a strong return on a $14,750 median debt.
Miami University Hamilton came in at #21 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Miami University Hamilton is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Hamilton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,012, compared with $18,811 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,505 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $36,612. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Akron Main Campus earned the #22 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,135, with out-of-state students paying around $20,815. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $21,313 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from University Of Akron Main Campus generally make around $36,821. That is a strong return on a $21,313 median debt. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Great Oaks Career Campuses placed #23 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the suburb of Cincinnati, Great Oaks Career Campuses is a small public institution. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $16,673. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $60,896. That is a strong return on a $16,673 median debt.
Greene County Vocational School District earned the #24 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Greene County Vocational School District is a small public school located in the rural area of Xenia. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $8,919. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Greene County Vocational School District generally make around $46,623. Set against $8,919 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Toledo ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. University Of Toledo is a large public school located in the city of Toledo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,157, with out-of-state students paying around $21,517. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $37,548. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Rest of the Top 48 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for criminal justice & corrections this year:
More Criminal Justice & Corrections Rankings
View All Criminal Justice & Corrections Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 92 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 28 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.
