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2023 Best Value Colleges for Criminal Justice (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region

32 Ranked Colleges
1,928 Degrees Awarded
$11,200 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2020-2021, 32,891 people earned their degree in criminal justice, making the major the 27th most popular in the United States.

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

This year’s “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 32 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in criminal justice. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent criminal justice programs, but they also cost less that 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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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

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. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Criminal Justice (Income $30-$48k) 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 $30-$48k. Oakland Community College is a fairly large school located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan that handed out 27 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

Oakland Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Oakland Community College is $2,762 for Great Lakes Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Oakland Community College

2
Henry Ford College crest
Henry Ford College
Dearborn, Michigan

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Henry Ford College. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Henry Ford College is a fairly large school located in Dearborn, Michigan that handed out 24 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

Henry Ford College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #25 on our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Henry Ford College is $3,019 for Great Lakes Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Henry Ford College Criminal Justice Report

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, this large public school handed out 13 degrees to qualified ’s criminal justice students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at IUPUI, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is $8,216 for Great Lakes Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $30-$48k.

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 Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

4
Stark State College crest
Stark State College
North Canton, Ohio

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Stark State College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. This fairly large school is located in North Canton, Ohio, and it awarded 35 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

Stark State College also took the #21 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $7,437 for great lakes region criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Stark State College.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Stark State College

5
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Southwestern Illinois College
Belleville, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Southwestern Illinois College. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Belleville, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s criminal justice degrees to 43 students in 2020-2021.

SWIC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $6,170 for great lakes region criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend SWIC.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Southwestern Illinois College

6
Ferris crest
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, Michigan

Ferris State University landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Big Rapids, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s criminal justice degrees to 66 students in 2020-2021.

Ferris did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Ferris State University is $9,859 for great lakes region criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Ferris State University

7
Lake Superior State University crest
Lake Superior State University
Sault Ste Marie, Michigan

Lake Superior State University landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. 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 estimated yearly cost for Lake Superior State University is $9,967 for great lakes region criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Lake Superior State University

8
Owens State Community College crest
Owens Community College
Perrysburg, Ohio

Owens Community College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Owens Community College is a medium-sized school located in Perrysburg, Ohio that handed out 23 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

Owens State Community College also took the #22 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Owens State Community College is $8,985 for great lakes region criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Owens State Community College Criminal Justice Report

9
IU East crest
Indiana University - East
Richmond, Indiana

Indiana University - East landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k 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.

The estimated yearly cost for IU East is $6,831 for great lakes region criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Indiana University - East Criminal Justice Report

10
GVSU crest
Grand Valley State University
Allendale, Michigan

With a ranking of #10, Grand Valley State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Allendale, Michigan, and it awarded 156 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at GVSU, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend GVSU is $11,026 for great lakes region criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full GVSU Criminal Justice Report

11
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan

Michigan State University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. East Lansing, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s criminal justice degrees to 180 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k list, Michigan State has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Michigan State is $15,170 for Great Lakes Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% 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%.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Michigan State University

12
Northern Michigan University crest
Northern Michigan University
Marquette, Michigan

Northern Michigan University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Marquette, Michigan, this medium-sized public school awarded 6 diplomas to qualified ’s criminal justice students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k list, Northern Michigan University has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Northern Michigan University is $10,573 for Great Lakes Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Northern Michigan University

13

Western Illinois University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This medium-sized school is located in Macomb, Illinois, and it awarded 305 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at WIU, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend WIU is $12,112 for great lakes region criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Western Illinois University

14

Central Ohio Technical College landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This small school is located in Newark, Ohio, and it awarded 8 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend COTC is $8,958 for great lakes region criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Central Ohio Technical College Criminal Justice Report

15

Miami University - Hamilton came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Miami University - Hamilton is a public institution located in Hamilton, Ohio. The school has a small population, and it awarded 32 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $10,304 for Great Lakes Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Miami University - Hamilton.

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%.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Miami University - Hamilton

16
Franklin University crest
Franklin University
Columbus, Ohio

Franklin University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #16. Franklin University is located in Columbus, Ohio and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 53 ’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

Franklin University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #24 on our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Franklin University is $2,159 for great lakes region criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k.

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%.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Franklin University

17
Aurora crest
Aurora University
Aurora, Illinois

Aurora University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Aurora University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Aurora, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 8 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Aurora also made our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #20. The estimated yearly cost for Aurora is $13,273 for great lakes region criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k.

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 Aurora University Criminal Justice Report

18

Bryant & Stratton College - Wauwatosa landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Bryant & Stratton College - Wauwatosa is a small private for-profit school situated in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. It awarded 13 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Bryant & Stratton College - Wauwatosa is $18,743 for great lakes region criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Bryant & Stratton College - Wauwatosa Criminal Justice Report

19

University of Akron Main Campus landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Akron, Ohio, and it awarded 6 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k list, University of Akron Main Campus has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $15,510 for great lakes region criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Akron Main Campus.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at University of Akron Main Campus

20
Ashland crest
Ashland University
Ashland, Ohio

Ashland University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #20. This small school is located in Ashland, Ohio, and it awarded 31 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ashland, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Ashland University is $14,311 for great lakes region criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Ashland

21

Miami University - Middletown did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #21. Miami University - Middletown is a small public school situated in Middletown, Ohio. It awarded 9 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Miami University - Middletown is $10,838 for Great Lakes Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $30-$48k.

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%.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Miami University - Middletown

22
Elmhurst crest
Elmhurst University
Elmhurst, Illinois

Elmhurst University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This small school is located in Elmhurst, Illinois, and it awarded 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. The estimated yearly cost for Elmhurst is $16,211 for great lakes region criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.2% 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 Elmhurst University Criminal Justice Report

23

Concordia University, Wisconsin came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Mequon, Wisconsin, and it awarded 17 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

Concordia University, Wisconsin not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $19,092 for Great Lakes Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Concordia University, Wisconsin.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Concordia University, Wisconsin

24
Tiffin University crest
Tiffin University
Tiffin, Ohio

Tiffin University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Tiffin, Ohio is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s criminal justice degrees to 62 students in 2020-2021.

Tiffin University also made our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #13. The yearly cost to attend Tiffin University is $20,001 for great lakes region criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Tiffin University

25
Carroll U crest
Carroll University
Waukesha, Wisconsin

Carroll University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Waukesha, Wisconsin is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s criminal justice degrees to 16 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Carroll U, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $18,414 for great lakes region criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Carroll University.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Carroll University

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