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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice & Corrections (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region

28 Ranked Colleges
594 Degrees Awarded
$21,600 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master's 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. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.

Criminal Justice & Corrections is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 6th of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 113,581 degrees were awarded to students with this major. In 2017-2018, criminal justice and corrections graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $31,952 and had an average of $24,936 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 13,233 criminal justice and corrections graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,369 and $24,187 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 594 criminal justice and corrections graduates with average earnings and debt of $57,039 and $42,488 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 28 colleges that offered 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.

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 and corrections program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools

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 Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region master’s degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice & Corrections (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region

#1

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Chicago. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. University of Chicago is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 29 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

UChicago not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Chicago are $61,548.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at UChicago

#2

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Michigan State University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Michigan State is located in East Lansing, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 12 masters’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

Michigan State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan State are $37,056, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Michigan State University

#3

University of Wisconsin - Platteville

Platteville, Wisconsin

Out of the 28 schools in the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Platteville landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Platteville, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school handed out 39 diplomas to qualified masters’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

UW - Platteville did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Platteville are $18,226.

Full UW - Platteville Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#4

Ferris State University

Big Rapids, Michigan

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Ferris State University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Ferris is a public institution located in Big Rapids, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 24 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Ferris also took the #12 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ferris are $7,908, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Ferris State University Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

Out of the 28 schools in the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis landed the #5 spot on the list. Indianapolis, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s criminal justice degrees to 20 students in 2019-2020.

IUPUI not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at IUPUI are $26,013.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

#6

Franklin University

Columbus, Ohio
#22 in overall quality

Franklin University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Columbus, Ohio, and it awarded 13 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Franklin University also made our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #22. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Franklin University are $16,080.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Franklin University

#21 in overall quality

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a fairly large public school situated in Edwardsville, Illinois. It awarded 4 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k list, SIUE has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at SIUE are $9,300, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#8

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, Michigan
#15 in overall quality

Grand Valley State University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Grand Valley State University is a large school located in Allendale, Michigan that handed out 5 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k list, GVSU has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Grand Valley State University are $17,448, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Grand Valley State University

#9

Governors State University

University Park, Illinois
#24 in overall quality

Governors State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. Governors State University is a small public school situated in University Park, Illinois. It awarded 6 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

GSU also took the #24 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Governors State University are $14,674, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at GSU

#8 in overall quality

University of Illinois at Chicago came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Illinois at Chicago is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 9 masters’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k list, UIC has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UIC are $27,036.

Full University of Illinois at Chicago Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#19 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, University of Michigan - Dearborn did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Dearborn, Michigan is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s criminal justice degrees to 11 students in 2019-2020.

UM Dearborn also made our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #19. Average graduate tuition and fees at UM Dearborn are $25,072, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Michigan - Dearborn Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#12

Miami University - Middletown

Middletown, Ohio

Miami University - Middletown did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. Miami University - Middletown is a small public school situated in Middletown, Ohio. It awarded 1 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Miami University - Middletown also took the #0 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Miami University - Middletown are $16,484.

Full Miami University - Middletown Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#13

Lewis University

Romeoville, Illinois

Lewis University landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Romeoville, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s criminal justice degrees to 45 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Lewis, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Lewis University are $14,780.

Full Lewis University Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#14

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois

With a ranking of #14, Western Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Western Illinois University is a medium-sized school located in Macomb, Illinois that handed out 49 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

WIU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Western Illinois University are $11,996, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at WIU

#15

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
#17 in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UWM is a large public school situated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It awarded 12 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

UWM did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee are $25,295, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#16

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois
#11 in overall quality

Illinois State University landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Normal, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s criminal justice degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Illinois State, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Illinois State University are $11,069, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Illinois State University

#17

Youngstown State University

Youngstown, Ohio
#25 in overall quality

Youngstown State University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Youngstown, Ohio, this fairly large public school handed out 8 degrees to qualified masters’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

Youngstown State University also took the #25 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Youngstown State University are $9,495, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Youngstown State University

With a ranking of #18, Miami University - Hamilton did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Hamilton, Ohio, this small public school awarded 1 diplomas to qualified masters’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

Miami University - Hamilton not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #0 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Miami University - Hamilton are $16,484.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Miami University - Hamilton

#19

Wayne State University

Detroit, Michigan

Wayne State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #19. This large school is located in Detroit, Michigan, and it awarded 17 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Wayne State are $37,215.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Wayne State University

University of Cincinnati - Main Campus landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Cincinnati - Main Campus is a large school located in Cincinnati, Ohio that handed out 121 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

UC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC are $26,644, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at UC

#21

University of Toledo

Toledo, Ohio
#18 in overall quality

With a ranking of #21, University of Toledo did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Toledo, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s criminal justice degrees to 12 students in 2019-2020.

University of Toledo did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Toledo are $27,067, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Toledo Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

Kent State University at Kent came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Kent State University at Kent is a large public school situated in Kent, Ohio. It awarded 17 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Kent State also took the #20 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Kent State University at Kent are $21,952, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Kent State Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

Wright State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #23. Dayton, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s criminal justice degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

Wright State University - Main Campus also made our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #0. Average graduate tuition and fees at Wright State University - Main Campus are $24,286, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Wright State University - Main Campus

#24

Chicago State University

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago State University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. CSU is a public institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 12 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at CSU are $15,056, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Chicago State University

#25

Tiffin University

Tiffin, Ohio
#16 in overall quality

Tiffin University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #25. Tiffin University is located in Tiffin, Ohio and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 16 masters’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

Tiffin University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Tiffin University are $13,000.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Tiffin University

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Notes and References

References

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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