2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Criminal Justice & Police Science](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/criminal-justice-and-police-science/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong criminal justice & police science education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 124 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value criminal justice & police science schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the criminal justice & police science degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools
Leading the list is Moraine Valley Community College, our #1 best value for criminal justice & police science in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the suburb of Palos Hills, Moraine Valley Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,822, compared with $9,846 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $11,149 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Moraine Valley Community College earn a median of $43,844 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Lansing Community College one of the best values for criminal justice & police science. Located in the city of Lansing, Lansing Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,100, with out-of-state students paying around $11,300. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $16,700 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Lansing Community College generally make around $46,103. That is a strong return on a $16,700 median debt.
Washtenaw Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & police science, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,736, compared with $6,504 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $28,059 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $67,732. Set against $28,059 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #4 makes Cuyahoga Community College District one of the best values for criminal justice & police science. Located in the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,249, compared with $7,249 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,149 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Cuyahoga Community College District generally make around $38,595. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice & police science will find it at Oakland Community College, which ranked #5. Oakland Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Auburn Hills. Students from in state pay about $3,120 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,560. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $13,506. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Oakland Community College earn a median of $51,827 early in their careers. Set against $13,506 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lewis And Clark Community College landed the #6 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Godfrey. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,340, compared with $7,840 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $9,120 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $31,763. Set against $9,120 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
North Central State College came in at #7 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the rural area of Mansfield, North Central State College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,786 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,374 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $10,782. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $50,218. Set against $10,782 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Schoolcraft College placed #8 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Schoolcraft College is a large public school located in the city of Livonia. In-state tuition and fees average $3,799, with out-of-state students paying around $6,501. Students borrow a median of $11,868 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $49,224. Set against $11,868 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Delta College came in at #9 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the rural area of University Center, Delta College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,820, while out-of-state students pay about $7,880. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $9,784. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Delta College generally make around $44,637. Set against $9,784 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Macomb Community College came in at #10 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the city of Warren, Macomb Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,660, compared with $8,370 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $6,964 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Macomb Community College earn a median of $38,758 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kankakee Community College placed #11 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Located in the city of Kankakee, Kankakee Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,220 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $25,830. Students borrow a median of $13,289 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Kankakee Community College earn a median of $60,509 early in their careers. Set against $13,289 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lorain County Community College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Lorain County Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Elyria. In-state tuition and fees average $4,265, with out-of-state students paying around $8,860. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $17,611 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Lorain County Community College earn a median of $40,095 early in their careers. Set against $17,611 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Elgin Community College landed the #13 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Set in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,252, while out-of-state students pay about $9,516. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $7,727 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Elgin Community College generally make around $43,975. Set against $7,727 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kellogg Community College placed #14 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Located in the city of Battle Creek, Kellogg Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,118, compared with $8,282 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $20,432 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Kellogg Community College earn a median of $32,616 early in their careers. Set against $20,432 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Harper College placed #15 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Harper College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Palatine. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,894, with out-of-state students paying around $11,874. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $10,963 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Harper College generally make around $38,474. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Joliet Junior College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Located in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,530, while out-of-state students pay about $13,800. Students borrow a median of $11,995 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $40,118. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Sinclair Community College earned the #17 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Sinclair Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Dayton. In-state tuition and fees average $3,675, compared with $8,556 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $11,054. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $29,888. Set against $11,054 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Marion Technical College landed the #18 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Marion Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Marion. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,595, while out-of-state students pay about $11,225. Students borrow a median of $11,828 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $48,132. That is a strong return on a $11,828 median debt.
College Of Dupage came in at #19 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,560, with out-of-state students paying around $12,750. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $7,521 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of College Of Dupage earn a median of $28,749 early in their careers. Set against $7,521 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Oakton Community College landed the #20 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Oakton Community College is a large public school located in the city of Des Plaines. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,985, while out-of-state students pay about $12,462. Students borrow a median of $7,750 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $48,838. That is a strong return on a $7,750 median debt.
Wayne County Community College District earned the #21 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the city of Detroit, Wayne County Community College District is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,112, compared with $4,067 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,820 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Wayne County Community College District earn a median of $48,892 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mott Community College came in at #22 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the city of Flint, Mott Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,845 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,460. Students borrow a median of $16,781 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Mott Community College generally make around $34,127. Set against $16,781 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Stark State College landed the #23 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Set in the suburb of North Canton, Stark State College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,790, while out-of-state students pay about $7,886. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $16,350 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Stark State College generally make around $35,014. Set against $16,350 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southwestern Illinois College earned the #24 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the suburb of Belleville, Southwestern Illinois College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,230, while out-of-state students pay about $6,720. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $11,000. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Southwestern Illinois College generally make around $44,345. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Columbus State Community College landed the #25 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Columbus State Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,488, compared with $11,224 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $9,041. Graduates go on to earn a median of $39,435 ten years after entry. Set against $9,041 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for criminal justice & police science this year:
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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 · 124 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 32 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
