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2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

34 Ranked Colleges
1,928 Degrees Awarded
$10,100 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Criminal Justice is the 27th most popular major in the country with 32,891 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 1,928 criminal justice graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 34 colleges that offer a degree in criminal justice. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality criminal justice 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 criminal justice program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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The criminal justice school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k”.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest 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 Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Criminal Justice (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region

1
Oakland Community College crest
Oakland Community College
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Oakland Community College. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Oakland Community College is located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 27 ’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k list, Oakland Community College has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $1,464 for great lakes region criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Oakland Community College.

Full Oakland Community College Criminal Justice Report

2
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Michigan State University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Michigan State is located in East Lansing, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 180 ’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

Michigan State also made our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #1. The estimated yearly cost for Michigan State University is $6,927 for Great Lakes Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Michigan State

3
Ferris crest
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, Michigan

Out of the 34 schools in the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Ferris State University landed the #3 spot on the list. Ferris State University is a fairly large school located in Big Rapids, Michigan that handed out 66 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k list, Ferris has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $6,577 for Great Lakes Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Ferris State University.

Full Ferris Criminal Justice Report

4

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. IUPUI is a large public school situated in Indianapolis, Indiana. It awarded 13 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

IUPUI not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend IUPUI is $7,026 for Great Lakes Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis Criminal Justice Report

5
Lake Superior State University crest
Lake Superior State University
Sault Ste Marie, Michigan

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Lake Superior State University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan, this small public school handed out 74 diplomas to qualified ’s criminal justice students in 2020-2021.

Lake Superior State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Lake Superior State University is $7,159 for great lakes region criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Lake Superior State University Criminal Justice Report

6
Henry Ford College crest
Henry Ford College
Dearborn, Michigan

Henry Ford College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Henry Ford College is a fairly large public school situated in Dearborn, Michigan. It awarded 24 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

Henry Ford College also took the #25 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $2,310 for great lakes region criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Henry Ford College.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Henry Ford College

7
Macomb Community College crest
Macomb Community College
Warren, Michigan

Macomb Community College landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Macomb Community College is a fairly large school located in Warren, Michigan that handed out 33 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k list, Macomb Community College has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Macomb Community College is $8,750 for Great Lakes Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Macomb Community College

8
SWIC crest
Southwestern Illinois College
Belleville, Illinois

Southwestern Illinois College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Southwestern Illinois College is a public institution located in Belleville, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 43 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k list, SWIC has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Southwestern Illinois College is $5,484 for great lakes region criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at SWIC

9
Northern Michigan University crest
Northern Michigan University
Marquette, Michigan

With a ranking of #9, Northern Michigan University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Marquette, Michigan is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s criminal justice degrees to 6 students in 2020-2021.

Northern Michigan University also took the #10 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $8,958 for Great Lakes Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Northern Michigan University.

Full Northern Michigan University Criminal Justice Report

10
Stark State College crest
Stark State College
North Canton, Ohio

Stark State College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Stark State College is a fairly large public school situated in North Canton, Ohio. It awarded 35 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

Stark State College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Stark State College is $5,937 for Great Lakes Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Stark State College

11
Owens State Community College crest
Owens Community College
Perrysburg, Ohio

Owens Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #11. Perrysburg, Ohio is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s criminal justice degrees to 23 students in 2020-2021.

Owens State Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $8,505 for Great Lakes Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Owens Community College.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Owens Community College

12
GVSU crest
Grand Valley State University
Allendale, Michigan

Grand Valley State University landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. GVSU is located in Allendale, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 156 ’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

GVSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $10,259 for Great Lakes Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Grand Valley State University.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% 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 Grand Valley State University Criminal Justice Report

13
IU East crest
Indiana University - East
Richmond, Indiana

Indiana University - East came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Indiana University - East is located in Richmond, Indiana and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 46 ’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $5,516 for great lakes region criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend IU East.

Full IU East Criminal Justice Report

14

Western Illinois University landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Macomb, Illinois, this medium-sized public school awarded 305 diplomas to qualified ’s criminal justice students in 2020-2021.

WIU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Western Illinois University is $12,265 for Great Lakes Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Western Illinois University Criminal Justice Report

15

Union Institute & University landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Union is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Cincinnati, Ohio. It awarded 178 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

Union also made our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #2. The yearly cost to attend Union is $19,861 for great lakes region criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Union Criminal Justice Report

16

Central Ohio Technical College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Central Ohio Technical College is a small public school situated in Newark, Ohio. It awarded 8 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend COTC is $8,759 for great lakes region criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Central Ohio Technical College Criminal Justice Report

17
Franklin University crest
Franklin University
Columbus, Ohio

Franklin University landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Columbus, Ohio, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 53 degrees to qualified ’s criminal justice students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k list, Franklin University has also earned the #24 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Franklin University is $6,527 for great lakes region criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 5.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Franklin University Criminal Justice Report

18

Miami University - Hamilton did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #18. This small school is located in Hamilton, Ohio, and it awarded 32 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Miami University - Hamilton is $10,607 for Great Lakes Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Miami University - Hamilton Criminal Justice Report

19
Aurora crest
Aurora University
Aurora, Illinois

Aurora University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #19. This medium-sized school is located in Aurora, Illinois, and it awarded 8 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

Aurora also took the #20 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $13,571 for great lakes region criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Aurora.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Aurora

20
Ashland crest
Ashland University
Ashland, Ohio

With a ranking of #20, Ashland University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Ashland, Ohio, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 31 diplomas to qualified ’s criminal justice students in 2020-2021.

Ashland not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $19,728 for Great Lakes Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Ashland University.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.1% 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%.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Ashland University

21

University of Akron Main Campus ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Akron, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s criminal justice degrees to 6 students in 2020-2021.

University of Akron Main Campus also made our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #19. The yearly cost to attend University of Akron Main Campus is $14,420 for Great Lakes Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full University of Akron Main Campus Criminal Justice Report

22

Miami University - Middletown did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #22. Miami University - Middletown is a small public school situated in Middletown, Ohio. It awarded 9 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Miami University - Middletown is $8,572 for great lakes region criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Miami University - Middletown

23
Elmhurst crest
Elmhurst University
Elmhurst, Illinois

Elmhurst University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Elmhurst is a small school located in Elmhurst, Illinois that handed out 31 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

Elmhurst not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $15,133 for great lakes region criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Elmhurst University.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Elmhurst

24

Concordia University, Wisconsin came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Concordia University, Wisconsin is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Mequon, Wisconsin. It awarded 17 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k list, Concordia University, Wisconsin has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $17,665 for great lakes region criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Concordia University, Wisconsin.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Concordia University, Wisconsin

25
Tiffin University crest
Tiffin University
Tiffin, Ohio

Tiffin University landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Tiffin University is a small school located in Tiffin, Ohio that handed out 62 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

Tiffin University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Tiffin University is $19,603 for Great Lakes Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Tiffin University Criminal Justice Report

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