2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools in Michigan
[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 best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 24 schools to find the best return on investment for criminal justice & police science students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools in Michigan
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in criminal justice & police science, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools
Leading the list is Lansing Community College, our #1 best value for criminal justice & police science in Michigan. Located in the city of Lansing, Lansing Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $46,103. That is a strong return on a $16,700 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice & police science will find it at Washtenaw Community College, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,736, with out-of-state students paying around $6,504. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $28,059 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $67,732. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Oakland Community College one of the best values for criminal justice & police science. Set in the suburb of Auburn Hills, Oakland Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,120, with out-of-state students paying around $5,560. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $13,506 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Oakland Community College earn a median of $51,827 early in their careers. 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 Delta College, which ranked #4. 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. Students borrow a median of $9,784 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Delta College generally make around $44,637. That is a strong return on a $9,784 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Kellogg Community College one of the best values for criminal justice & police science. Located in the city of Battle Creek, Kellogg Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,118 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,282. 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. That is a strong return on a $20,432 median debt.
Schoolcraft College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Schoolcraft College is a large public school located in the city of Livonia. In-state tuition and fees average $3,799, while out-of-state students pay about $6,501. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $11,868. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $49,224. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Macomb Community College earned the #7 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Macomb Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Warren. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,660, while out-of-state students pay about $8,370. Students borrow a median of $6,964 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Macomb Community College earn a median of $38,758 early in their careers. Set against $6,964 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wayne County Community College District earned the #8 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. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,112, with out-of-state students paying around $4,067. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $20,820. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $48,892. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mott Community College came in at #9 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the city of Flint, Mott Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,845, while out-of-state students pay about $11,460. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $16,781. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Mott Community College generally make around $34,127. That is a strong return on a $16,781 median debt.
Jackson Community College earned the #10 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Jackson Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Jackson. Students from in state pay about $7,350 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,200. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $16,960 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Jackson Community College generally make around $39,162. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kirtland Community College landed the #11 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Set in the rural area of Grayling, Kirtland Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,190 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,870. Students borrow a median of $17,333 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Kirtland Community College generally make around $50,469. Set against $17,333 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Grand Rapids Community College landed the #12 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Grand Rapids Community College is a large public school located in the city of Grand Rapids. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,179, compared with $12,219 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,851 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Grand Rapids Community College generally make around $53,664. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lake Michigan College earned the #13 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Lake Michigan College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Benton Harbor. In-state tuition and fees average $5,445, with out-of-state students paying around $7,755. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $14,473. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $50,185. That is a strong return on a $14,473 median debt.
Ferris State University placed #14 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Set in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,778. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $21,880. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Ferris State University earn a median of $48,266 early in their careers. Set against $21,880 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Siena Heights University landed the #15 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Located in the town of Adrian, Siena Heights University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $30,778. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $22,250 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Siena Heights University earn a median of $67,009 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Siena Heights University admits about 69% of applicants.
More Criminal Justice & Police Science Rankings
View All Criminal Justice & Police Science Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 24 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.
