College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Value Criminology Schools in Wisconsin

4 Colleges in the United States
$25,103 Avg Student Debt
$62,651 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value Criminology Badge [Criminology](/majors/social-sciences/criminology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 7 schools to find the best return on investment for criminology students.

What’s on this page:

2026 Best Value Criminology Schools in Wisconsin

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in criminology, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Criminology Schools

1

For return on investment in criminology, no school beat University Of Wisconsin River Falls this year. Set in the town of River Falls, University Of Wisconsin River Falls is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,008 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,470. Criminology graduates carry a median of $24,750 in student loans. Early-career criminology graduates make about $45,113. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.

2

A rank of #2 makes University Of Wisconsin Whitewater one of the best values for criminology. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a large public school located in the town of Whitewater. In-state tuition and fees average $8,616, with out-of-state students paying around $18,716. Criminology graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career criminology graduates make about $40,060. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.

3

University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value criminology schools. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,603, compared with $42,103 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $21,813. Early-career criminology graduates make about $59,877. That is a strong return on a $21,813 median debt. The acceptance rate is 45%.

4

Students looking for strong value in criminology will find it at University Of Wisconsin Stout, which ranked #4. Located in the town of Menomonie, University Of Wisconsin Stout is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,701, with out-of-state students paying around $19,265. Criminology graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Criminology graduates of University Of Wisconsin Stout earn a median of $49,004 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.

5
Lakeland College crest
Lakeland College
Plymouth, WI

Lakeland College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value criminology schools. Located in the rural area of Plymouth, Lakeland College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $33,396. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $26,053. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Lakeland College generally make around $45,276. That is a strong return on a $26,053 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.

6
Marquette University crest
Marquette University
Milwaukee, WI

Marquette University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value criminology schools. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Marquette University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $51,170. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the criminology program here. Criminology graduates of Marquette University earn a median of $35,650 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.

View All Criminology Rankings >

Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 7 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options