2025 Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region
27
Colleges in the Great Lakes Region
1,909
Criminal Justice Degrees Awarded
Ranked #27 in popularity,
criminal justice is one of the most sought-after degree programs in the nation. This makes choosing the right school a hard decision.
In 2025, College Factual analyzed 27 schools in order to identify the top ones for its Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Combined, these schools handed out 1,909 degrees in criminal justice to qualified students.
Jump to one of the following sections: * Degree-Level Rankings
Choosing a Great Criminal Justice School
Your choice of criminal justice school matters, so we have put together these rankings to help you make your decision. For our Best Overall Criminal Justice School rankings, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
You may want to choose one of the degree levels below to find the schools of most interest to you.
Pick Your Criminal Justice Degree Level
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 the Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region.
You can also filter this list by location to find schools closer to 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.
When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don't forget it.
More information on how we come up with our rankings can be found here: College Factual's Data Methodology.
Best Schools for Criminal Justice in the Great Lakes Region
Although we recommend filtering by degree level first, you can view the list below to see which schools give the educational experience for the criminal justice degree levels they offer.
10 Top Great Lakes Region Schools in Criminal Justice
Bachelor's Degree
Highest Degree Type
1st
Most Popular In OH
159
Criminal Justice Degrees Awarded
Union Institute & University is one of the best schools in the United States for getting a degree in criminal justice. Located in the large city of Cincinnati, Union is a private not-for-profit university with a small student population. A Best Colleges rank of #124 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Union is a great university overall.
There were about 159 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Union in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Union Institute & University
Doctor's Degree
Highest Degree Type
1st
Most Popular In MI
232
Criminal Justice Degrees Awarded
It is difficult to beat Michigan State University if you want to pursue a degree in criminal justice. Located in the small city of East Lansing, Michigan State is a public university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #54 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means Michigan State is a great university overall.
There were approximately 232 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Michigan State in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Michigan State University
Bachelors
Degree Type
BS in Criminal Justice - Criminology & Crime Analysis
Program Name
Track and understand criminal behavior by earning a BS in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Criminology & Crime Analysis.
More information about a degree in BS in Criminal Justice - Criminology & Crime Analysis from Southern New Hampshire University
Master's Degree
Highest Degree Type
1st
Most Popular In IL
225
Criminal Justice Degrees Awarded
Every student who is interested in criminal justice needs to check out Western Illinois University. WIU is a medium-sized public university located in the remote town of Macomb. This university ranks 37th out of 85 schools for overall quality in the state of Illinois.
There were approximately 225 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at WIU in the most recent year we have data available.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Western Illinois University
Master's Degree
Highest Degree Type
2nd
Most Popular In MI
166
Criminal Justice Degrees Awarded
It is hard to beat Grand Valley State University if you wish to pursue a degree in criminal justice. Located in the town of Allendale, GVSU is a public university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #342 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means GVSU is a great university overall.
There were approximately 166 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at GVSU in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Grand Valley State University
Bachelor's Degree
Highest Degree Type
3rd
Most Popular In MI
59
Criminal Justice Degrees Awarded
Lake Superior State University is a small public university located in the remote town of Sault Ste Marie. This university ranks 37th out of 56 schools for overall quality in the state of Michigan.
There were approximately 59 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Lake Superior State University in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Lake Superior State University
Associate Degree
Highest Degree Type
5th
Most Popular In MI
Located in the midsize city of Warren, Macomb Community College is a public college with a large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #499 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means Macomb Community College is a great college overall.
There were approximately 24 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Macomb Community College in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Macomb Community College
Master's Degree
Highest Degree Type
4th
Most Popular In MI
49
Criminal Justice Degrees Awarded
Located in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris is a public university with a medium-sized student population. A Best Colleges rank of #565 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Ferris is a great university overall.
There were about 49 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Ferris in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Ferris State University
Master's Degree
Highest Degree Type
1st
Most Popular In IN
67
Criminal Justice Degrees Awarded
Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Global is a public university with a very large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #284 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means Purdue University Global is a great university overall.
There were approximately 67 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Purdue University Global in the most recent year we have data available.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Purdue University Global
Master's Degree
Highest Degree Type
2nd
Most Popular In OH
48
Criminal Justice Degrees Awarded
Tiffin University is a small private not-for-profit university located in the town of Tiffin. This university ranks 36th out of 91 schools for overall quality in the state of Ohio.
There were about 48 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Tiffin University in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Tiffin University
Associate Degree
Highest Degree Type
6th
Most Popular In MI
119
Criminal Justice Degrees Awarded
Oakland Community College is a large public college located in the large suburb of Auburn Hills. This college ranks 22nd out of 56 colleges for overall quality in the state of Michigan.
There were approximately 119 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Oakland Community College in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Oakland Community College
