2023 Best Value Colleges for Criminal Justice & Corrections (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
128
Ranked Colleges
13,463
Degrees Awarded
$5,400
Avg Net Price*
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. 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.
With 113,121 degrees handed out in 2020-2021, criminal justice and corrections is the 7th most popular major in the United States. In 2019-2020, criminal justice and corrections graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $35,465 and had an average of $25,425 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 13,463 criminal justice and corrections graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,578 and $23,701 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 128 colleges that offer a degree in criminal justice and corrections. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent criminal justice and corrections programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the criminal justice and corrections program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
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. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k
The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Criminal Justice & Corrections (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Chicago. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Chicago is a fairly large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 23 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
UChicago not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UChicago is $2,500 for great lakes region criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 100%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at University of Chicago
Out of the 128 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, Eastern Gateway Community College landed the #2 spot on the list. Eastern Gateway Community College is located in Steubenville, Ohio and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 572 ’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Eastern Gateway Community College, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Eastern Gateway Community College is $2,324 for Great Lakes Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Eastern Gateway Community College
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Indiana University - Bloomington. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. IU Bloomington is located in Bloomington, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 115 ’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at IU Bloomington, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - Bloomington is $5,752 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 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at IU Bloomington
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Oakland Community College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Oakland Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. It awarded 124 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $1,464 for great lakes region criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Oakland Community College.
Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Oakland Community College
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Michigan 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 East Lansing, Michigan, this large public school handed out 180 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, Michigan State has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Michigan State University is $6,927 for Great Lakes Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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 & Corrections at Michigan State
Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, this large public school handed out 151 diplomas to qualified ’s criminal justice students in 2020-2021.
IUPUI did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections 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%.
Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis
Moraine Valley 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 #7. Moraine Valley Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Palos Hills, Illinois. It awarded 61 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for MVCC is $-210 for Great Lakes Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k. The negative number means the student will receive more financial aid on average than it costs to attend the school.
Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Moraine Valley Community College
Gateway Technical College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and it awarded 162 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
Gateway Technical College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $6,921 for great lakes region criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Gateway Technical College.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Gateway Technical College
With a ranking of #9, Ivy Tech Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Indianapolis, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s criminal justice degrees to 581 students in 2020-2021.
Ivy Tech Community College also made our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #19. The yearly cost to attend Ivy Tech Community College is $6,213 for Great Lakes Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Ivy Tech Community College
Washtenaw Community College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Washtenaw Community College is a fairly large school located in Ann Arbor, Michigan that handed out 62 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Washtenaw Community College is $1,892 for great lakes region criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Washtenaw Community College
Sinclair Community College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Dayton, Ohio, and it awarded 312 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Sinclair Community College is $3,594 for great lakes region criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Sinclair Community College
Ferris State 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 $0-$30k ranking. Ferris is located in Big Rapids, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 386 ’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.
Ferris also made our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #12. The yearly cost to attend Ferris State University is $6,577 for great lakes region criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Ferris Criminal Justice & Corrections Report
Lewis and Clark Community College 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. Lewis and Clark Community College is a small school located in Godfrey, Illinois that handed out 46 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Lewis and Clark Community College is $4,423 for Great Lakes Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Lewis and Clark Community College
Grand Rapids Community College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Grand Rapids Community College is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 87 ’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend Grand Rapids Community College is $6,625 for great lakes region criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Grand Rapids Community College Criminal Justice & Corrections Report
Madison Area Technical 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 #15. This fairly large school is located in Madison, Wisconsin, and it awarded 77 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
Madison College also made our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #23. The estimated yearly cost for Madison Area Technical College is $7,567 for Great Lakes Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Madison College Criminal Justice & Corrections Report
Lake Superior State University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan, and it awarded 77 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
Lake Superior State University excels when it comes to criminal justice quality. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. It costs about $7,159 for great lakes region criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Lake Superior State University.
Full Lake Superior State University Criminal Justice & Corrections Report
Henry Ford College came in at #17 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 school located in Dearborn, Michigan that handed out 24 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Henry Ford College is $2,310 for Great Lakes Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Henry Ford College Criminal Justice & Corrections Report
Lansing Community College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Lansing, Michigan, this fairly large public school awarded 42 diplomas to qualified ’s criminal justice students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Lansing Community College is $4,929 for great lakes region criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full LCC Criminal Justice & Corrections Report
With a ranking of #19, Oakland 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 Rochester Hills, Michigan, this fairly large public school awarded 87 degrees to qualified ’s criminal justice students in 2020-2021.
Oakland also made our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #25. It costs about $8,949 for Great Lakes Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Oakland.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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 full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Oakland
Western Technical College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Western Technical College is a small public school situated in La Crosse, Wisconsin. It awarded 54 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $7,743 for great lakes region criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Western Technical College.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Western Technical College
With a ranking of #21, Cuyahoga Community College District did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Cuyahoga Community College District is a fairly large public school situated in Cleveland, Ohio. It awarded 42 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $3,141 for great lakes region criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Cuyahoga Community College District.
Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Cuyahoga Community College District
Indiana University - Northwest 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. This small school is located in Gary, Indiana, and it awarded 50 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $2,714 for great lakes region criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend IU Northwest.
Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Indiana University - Northwest
Ball State University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Ball State is a large school located in Muncie, Indiana that handed out 128 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
Ball State also took the #24 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Ball State University is $8,273 for Great Lakes Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
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 & Corrections at Ball State
Macomb Community College landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Macomb Community College is located in Warren, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 55 ’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.
Macomb Community College also took the #20 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Macomb Community College is $8,750 for Great Lakes Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Macomb Community College Criminal Justice & Corrections Report
University of Illinois at Chicago 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 #25. University of Illinois at Chicago is a public institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 203 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UIC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Illinois at Chicago is $10,549 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 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Illinois at Chicago Criminal Justice & Corrections Report
