2026 Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in Ohio
Criminal Justice & Corrections degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their criminal justice & corrections programs.
College Factual analyzed 92 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best criminal justice & corrections schools.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Criminal Justice & Corrections in Ohio
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
Our analysis ranked Bowling Green State University Main Campus the best school in the country for a degree in criminal justice & corrections. Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the town of Bowling Green. About 61% of students finish within six years. Bowling Green State University Main Campus awarded about 108 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Bowling Green State University Main Campus earn around $36,468 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Bowling Green State University Main Campus
Students looking for a strong criminal justice & corrections program will find one at Cedarville University, which ranked #2. Set in the rural area of Cedarville, Cedarville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 72% of students finish within six years. Cedarville University awarded about 14 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data 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.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Cedarville University
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & corrections, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public institution. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates 74% of students within six years. About 318 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn around $49,712 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates carry a median of $21,253 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong criminal justice & corrections program will find one at University Of Dayton, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Dayton, University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. University Of Dayton awarded about 47 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from University Of Dayton earn around $25,150 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Dayton graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for University Of Dayton
Ohio University Main Campus 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 town of Athens. Ohio University Main Campus graduates 65% of students within six years. About 10 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Ohio University Main Campus in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Ohio University Main Campus earn a median of $44,159 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Ohio University Main Campus
University Of Toledo landed the #6 spot for criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the city of Toledo, University Of Toledo is a large public institution. University Of Toledo graduates 58% of students within six years. There were roughly 66 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at University Of Toledo in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $37,548 in their early career. University Of Toledo graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from University Of Toledo
Cuyahoga Community College District ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Cleveland. Cuyahoga Community College District awarded about 32 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Cuyahoga Community College District generally make around $38,595. Typical student debt for the program is $7,149.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Cuyahoga Community College District
Walsh University placed #8 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Walsh University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of North Canton. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. Walsh University awarded about 11 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Walsh University earn around $53,629 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $28,064 to complete this degree.
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Franklin University came in at #9 for criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Franklin University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 3%. About 186 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Franklin University in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Franklin University earn a median of $38,103 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $28,750 to complete this degree.
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Owens Community College earned the #10 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. Owens Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Perrysburg. About 49 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Owens Community College in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Owens Community College earn a median of $51,319 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,663 to complete this degree.
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Baldwin Wallace College landed the #11 spot for criminal justice & corrections this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Berea. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. Baldwin Wallace College awarded about 15 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Baldwin Wallace College generally make around $42,407. Baldwin Wallace College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Baldwin Wallace College
Lakeland Community College earned the #12 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Kirtland. There were roughly 20 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Lakeland Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $51,941 in their early career. Lakeland Community College graduates carry a median of $19,857 in student loans.
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University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College came in at #13 for criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the suburb of Blue Ash, University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College is a large public university. There were roughly 32 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College earn a median of $38,399 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,799 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College
University Of Cincinnati Clermont College earned the #14 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the suburb of Batavia, University Of Cincinnati Clermont College is a large public university. About 18 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at University Of Cincinnati Clermont College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $38,399 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,799 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for University Of Cincinnati Clermont College
Xavier University came in at #15 for criminal justice & corrections this year. Xavier University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cincinnati. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. About 32 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Xavier University in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Xavier University earn around $48,079 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,396.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Xavier University
Youngstown State University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a large public university. About 50% of students finish within six years. Youngstown State University awarded about 90 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $37,325 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,465.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Youngstown State University
Kent State University At Kent placed #17 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public university. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 125 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Kent State University At Kent in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $33,980 in their early career. Kent State University At Kent graduates carry a median of $22,843 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Kent State University At Kent
Central Ohio Technical College landed the #18 spot for criminal justice & corrections this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the suburb of Newark. There were roughly 38 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Central Ohio Technical College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $40,065 in their early career. Central Ohio Technical College graduates carry a median of $16,779 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Central Ohio Technical College
Ashland University placed #19 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Ashland University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Ashland. About 60% of students finish within six years. About 19 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Ashland University in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Ashland University earn a median of $42,172 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $29,406.
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North Central State College came in at #20 for criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the rural area of Mansfield, North Central State College is a mid-sized public university. North Central State College awarded about 44 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $50,218 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $10,782 to complete this degree.
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Tiffin University earned the #21 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Tiffin. The six-year graduation rate is 40%. Tiffin University awarded about 30 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Tiffin University earn a median of $53,145 early in their careers. Tiffin University graduates carry a median of $30,758 in student loans.
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Hocking College earned the #22 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. Hocking College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Nelsonville. Hocking College awarded about 40 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Hocking College generally make around $37,002. Students borrow a median of $14,750 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at Hocking College
Marion Technical College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the town of Marion, Marion Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Marion Technical College awarded about 23 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Marion Technical College generally make around $48,132. Marion Technical College graduates carry a median of $11,828 in student loans.
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University Of Mount Union came in at #24 for criminal justice & corrections this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Alliance. About 59% of students finish within six years. University Of Mount Union awarded about 11 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $38,440 in their early career. University Of Mount Union graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Defiance College placed #25 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the town of Defiance, Defiance College is a small private not-for-profit university. Defiance College graduates 31% of students within six years. There were roughly 11 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Defiance College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $31,528 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,700.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Defiance College
Rest of the Top 49 Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s criminal justice & corrections ranking:
More Criminal Justice & Corrections Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 92 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.