2027 Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Criminal Justice & Corrections 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.
College Factual analyzed 176 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best criminal justice & corrections schools.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Criminal Justice & Corrections 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 & corrections degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Criminal Justice & Corrections
University Of Chicago tops our 2027 ranking of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 24 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at University Of Chicago in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $100,258 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,854.
Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at University Of Chicago
Indiana University Bloomington is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & corrections, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. There were roughly 108 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $35,572 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,464 to complete this degree.
Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for Indiana University Bloomington
Illinois State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice & corrections, ranking #3. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. Illinois State University awarded about 157 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Illinois State University earn around $37,584 in the first couple years of their career. Illinois State University graduates carry a median of $22,531 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Illinois State University
Students looking for a strong criminal justice & corrections program will find one at Michigan State University, which ranked #4. This very large public university is located in the city of East Lansing. About 81% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 227 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Michigan State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $57,913. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at Michigan State University
University Of Illinois At Chicago is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & corrections, landing the #5 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Chicago. About 62% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 129 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $34,551 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,875 to complete this degree.
Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for University Of Illinois At Chicago
Aurora University placed #6 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Aurora. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 80 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Aurora University in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Aurora University earn around $44,150 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,635 to complete this degree.
Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for Aurora University
Lewis University earned the #7 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Lewis University graduates 67% of students within six years. About 91 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Lewis University in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $66,865 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,000.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Lewis University
University Of Detroit Mercy placed #8 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. University Of Detroit Mercy is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Detroit. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. About 15 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at University Of Detroit Mercy in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of University Of Detroit Mercy earn a median of $76,755 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $29,053.
Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at University Of Detroit Mercy
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis came in at #9 for criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public institution. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 66 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis generally make around $46,011. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis graduates carry a median of $20,300 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
Grand Valley State University placed #10 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Grand Valley State University is a very large public school located in the town of Allendale. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. There were roughly 109 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Grand Valley State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $39,857 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at Grand Valley State University
Fox Valley Technical College landed the #11 spot for criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the suburb of Appleton, Fox Valley Technical College is a large public institution. There were roughly 126 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Fox Valley Technical College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $52,156 in their early career. Fox Valley Technical College graduates carry a median of $17,125 in student loans.
Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for Fox Valley Technical College
Madison Area Technical College placed #12 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. This large public university is located in the city of Madison. Madison Area Technical College awarded about 77 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $39,174 in their early career. Madison Area Technical College graduates carry a median of $13,750 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Madison Area Technical College
Central Michigan University came in at #13 for criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 59%. There were roughly 43 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Central Michigan University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Central Michigan University generally make around $50,688. Central Michigan University graduates carry a median of $27,857 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Central Michigan University
Loyola University Chicago placed #14 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. About 82 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Loyola University Chicago generally make around $42,128. Loyola University Chicago graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Loyola University Chicago
Cedarville University came in at #15 for criminal justice & corrections this year. Cedarville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Cedarville. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. About 15 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Cedarville University in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Cedarville University earn a median of $57,104 early in their careers. Cedarville University graduates carry a median of $22,110 in student loans.
Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for Cedarville University
Harper College landed the #16 spot for criminal justice & corrections this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Palatine. There were roughly 28 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Harper College in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Harper College earn a median of $38,474 early in their careers. Harper College graduates carry a median of $10,963 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at Harper College
University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire came in at #17 for criminal justice & corrections this year. This large public university is located in the city of Eau Claire. About 65% of students finish within six years. About 38 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $41,258 in their early career. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire
Ball State University placed #18 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Muncie. Ball State University graduates 62% of students within six years. Ball State University awarded about 98 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Ball State University generally make around $39,991. Typical student debt for the program is $23,367.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Ball State University
Ferris State University ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. This large public university is located in the town of Big Rapids. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 181 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Ferris State University in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Ferris State University earn a median of $48,266 early in their careers. Ferris State University graduates carry a median of $21,880 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Ferris State University
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates 74% of students within six years. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus awarded about 338 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $49,712 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,253.
Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
Siena Heights University placed #21 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Adrian. About 39% of students finish within six years. Siena Heights University awarded about 26 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Siena Heights University earn a median of $67,009 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,250 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Siena Heights University
University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. This large public university is located in the city of Oshkosh. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. There were roughly 55 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh generally make around $39,394. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh
Western Illinois University placed #23 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Macomb. The six-year graduation rate is 45%. Western Illinois University awarded about 188 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $45,140 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Western Illinois University
Calumet College Of Saint Joseph placed #24 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Whiting. Calumet College Of Saint Joseph graduates 22% of students within six years. About 43 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Calumet College Of Saint Joseph in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Calumet College Of Saint Joseph earn a median of $55,587 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,856 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Calumet College Of Saint Joseph
Eastern Illinois University earned the #25 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. This large public university is located in the town of Charleston. Eastern Illinois University graduates 47% of students within six years. There were roughly 29 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Eastern Illinois University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Eastern Illinois University generally make around $40,489. Eastern Illinois University graduates carry a median of $24,293 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at Eastern Illinois University
Rest of the Top 50 Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s criminal justice & corrections ranking:
Honorable Mentions
Also worth considering for criminal justice & corrections:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 176 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.