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2023 Best Value Colleges for Criminology in the Great Lakes Region

23 Ranked Colleges
1,493 Degrees Awarded
$18,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Criminology Schools in the Great Lakes Region

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Criminology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2020-2021, 11,039 people earned their degree in criminology, making the major the 80th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, criminology graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $33,568 and had an average of $24,453 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 1,493 criminology graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,842 and $26,341 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Criminology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking looked at 23 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in criminology. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality criminology programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the criminology program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Criminology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list to help you make the college decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Criminology Schools in the Great Lakes Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region criminology students.

Top 23 Best Value Colleges for Criminology in the Great Lakes Region

1
Purdue University Global crest
Purdue University Global
Indianapolis, Indiana

Out of the 23 schools in the Best Value Criminology Schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Purdue University Global landed the #1 spot on the list. Purdue University Global is located in Indianapolis, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 104 ’s criminology degrees to qualified students.

Purdue University Global did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Criminology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list.

Read full report on Criminology at Purdue University Global

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - River Falls. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Criminology Schools in the Great Lakes Region. Located in River Falls, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school handed out 41 diplomas to qualified ’s criminology students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - River Falls, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Criminology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UW - River Falls is $13,844 for great lakes region criminology students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Wisconsin - River Falls Criminology Report

3

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southern Illinois University Carbondale. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Criminology Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public institution located in Carbondale, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 92 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

SIUC also took the #4 spot in our “Best Criminology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Southern Illinois University Carbondale is $16,285 for great lakes region criminology students.

Read full report on Criminology at SIUC

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Whitewater. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Criminology Schools in the Great Lakes Region. University of Wisconsin - Whitewater is a fairly large public school situated in Whitewater, Wisconsin. It awarded 74 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.

UW - Whitewater not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Criminology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UW - Whitewater is $14,417 for Great Lakes Region Criminology students.

Read full report on Criminology at University of Wisconsin - Whitewater

5
Eastern Michigan crest
Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, Michigan

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Eastern Michigan University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Criminology Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. This fairly large school is located in Ypsilanti, Michigan, and it awarded 97 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.

Eastern Michigan also took the #6 spot in our “Best Criminology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Eastern Michigan University is $15,127 for Great Lakes Region Criminology students.

Full Eastern Michigan University Criminology Report

6

University of Wisconsin - Stout landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Criminology Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Wisconsin - Stout is located in Menomonie, Wisconsin and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 20 ’s criminology degrees to qualified students.

UW - Stout also took the #12 spot in our “Best Criminology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UW - Stout is $15,589 for great lakes region criminology students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Criminology at University of Wisconsin - Stout

7
Indiana State crest
Indiana State University
Terre Haute, Indiana

Indiana State University landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Criminology Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Indiana State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Terre Haute, Indiana. It awarded 136 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.

Indiana State also made our “Best Criminology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #7. The yearly cost to attend Indiana State University is $14,270 for Great Lakes Region Criminology students.

Read more about Criminology at Indiana State

8

With a ranking of #8, Cleveland State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Criminology Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. This fairly large school is located in Cleveland, Ohio, and it awarded 97 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.

Cleveland State University also made our “Best Criminology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #10. The estimated yearly cost for Cleveland State University is $16,943 for great lakes region criminology students.

Read full report on Criminology at Cleveland State University

9

Bowling Green State University - Main Campus ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Criminology Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Bowling Green, Ohio, this fairly large public school handed out 43 degrees to qualified ’s criminology students in 2020-2021.

BGSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Criminology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $18,558 for great lakes region criminology students per year to attend Bowling Green State University - Main Campus.

Read more about Criminology at BGSU

10

Wright State University - Main Campus landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Criminology Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Wright State University - Main Campus is a fairly large public school situated in Dayton, Ohio. It awarded 49 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region criminology students list, Wright State University - Main Campus has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Criminology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Wright State University - Main Campus is $15,962 for great lakes region criminology students.

Full Wright State University - Main Campus Criminology Report

11
NLU crest
National Louis University
Chicago, Illinois

National Louis University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Criminology Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s criminology degrees to 57 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region criminology students list, NLU has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Criminology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend NLU is $14,584 for Great Lakes Region Criminology students.

Read full report on Criminology at National Louis University

12

Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Criminology Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #12. Columbus, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s criminology degrees to 147 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ohio State, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Criminology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Ohio State University - Main Campus is $16,845 for Great Lakes Region Criminology students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Criminology at Ohio State University - Main Campus

13

University of Michigan - Dearborn landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value Criminology Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Michigan - Dearborn is a medium-sized public school situated in Dearborn, Michigan. It awarded 53 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.

UM Dearborn also took the #17 spot in our “Best Criminology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Michigan - Dearborn is $12,855 for Great Lakes Region Criminology students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full UM Dearborn Criminology Report

14

Wright State University - Lake Campus came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminology Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This small school is located in Celina, Ohio, and it awarded 7 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.

Wright State University - Lake Campus also made our “Best Criminology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #23. It costs about $11,341 for Great Lakes Region Criminology students per year to attend Wright State University - Lake Campus.

Read full report on Criminology at Wright State University - Lake Campus

15
Dominican U crest
Dominican University
River Forest, Illinois

Dominican University landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value Criminology Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Dominican University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in River Forest, Illinois. It awarded 24 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.

Dominican U also made our “Best Criminology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #11. The yearly cost to attend Dominican U is $18,645 for Great Lakes Region Criminology students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Dominican U Criminology Report

16
Lakeland crest
Lakeland University
Plymouth, Wisconsin

Lakeland University landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value Criminology Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Lakeland is a small school located in Plymouth, Wisconsin that handed out 12 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.

Lakeland also took the #19 spot in our “Best Criminology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Lakeland is $23,026 for Great Lakes Region Criminology students.

Read full report on Criminology at Lakeland

17

Mount St. Joseph University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Criminology Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #17. Mount St. Joe is a small school located in Cincinnati, Ohio that handed out 12 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.

Mount St. Joe also made our “Best Criminology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #18. The yearly cost to attend Mount St. Joe is $18,475 for great lakes region criminology students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Mount St. Joe Criminology Report

18
Illinois College crest
Illinois College
Jacksonville, Illinois

Illinois College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Criminology Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #18. Illinois College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Jacksonville, Illinois. It awarded 14 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.

Illinois College also took the #20 spot in our “Best Criminology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Illinois College is $18,271 for great lakes region criminology students.

Read full report on Criminology at Illinois College

19

Ohio State University - Mansfield Campus ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Criminology Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Ohio State University - Mansfield Campus is a small school located in Mansfield, Ohio that handed out 7 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.

Ohio State University - Mansfield Campus also took the #22 spot in our “Best Criminology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $16,024 for great lakes region criminology students per year to attend Ohio State University - Mansfield Campus.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Ohio State University - Mansfield Campus Criminology Report

20
Capital crest
Capital University
Columbus, Ohio

Capital University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminology Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Capital is a small school located in Columbus, Ohio that handed out 20 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region criminology students list, Capital has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Criminology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Capital University is $20,020 for great lakes region criminology students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Criminology at Capital

21
Marquette crest
Marquette University
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Marquette University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminology Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 78 diplomas to qualified ’s criminology students in 2020-2021.

Marquette also made our “Best Criminology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #2. It costs about $30,380 for Great Lakes Region Criminology students per year to attend Marquette University.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.

Full Marquette University Criminology Report

22
Valpo crest
Valparaiso University
Valparaiso, Indiana

Valparaiso University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Criminology Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Valparaiso University is located in Valparaiso, Indiana and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 13 ’s criminology degrees to qualified students.

Valpo did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Criminology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Valparaiso University is $22,899 for Great Lakes Region Criminology students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Valpo Criminology Report

23
DePaul crest
DePaul University
Chicago, Illinois

With a ranking of #23, DePaul University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Criminology Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. DePaul is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 31 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region criminology students list, DePaul has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Criminology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend DePaul is $31,174 for great lakes region criminology students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Criminology at DePaul

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Notes and References

References

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