2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools in Ohio
[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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 46 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for criminal justice & police science students.
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2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools in Ohio
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
For return on investment in criminal justice & police science, no school beat Cuyahoga Community College District this year. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $7,249. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $7,149. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Cuyahoga Community College District generally make around $38,595. That is a strong return on a $7,149 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes North Central State College one of the best values for criminal justice & police science. North Central State College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Mansfield. Students from in state pay about $5,786 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,374. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $10,782 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of North Central State College earn a median of $50,218 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Lorain County Community College one of the best values for criminal justice & police science. Set in the suburb of Elyria, Lorain County Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,265, while out-of-state students pay about $8,860. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $17,611 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Lorain County Community College generally make around $40,095. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes Marion Technical College one of the best values for criminal justice & police science. Set in the town of Marion, Marion Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,595 in tuition and fees, 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. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Marion Technical College generally make around $48,132. That is a strong return on a $11,828 median debt.
Sinclair Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & police science, landing the #5 spot this year. Sinclair Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Dayton. Students from in state pay about $3,675 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,556. Students borrow a median of $11,054 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Sinclair Community College earn a median of $29,888 early in their careers. Set against $11,054 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Stark State College landed the #6 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, with out-of-state students paying around $7,886. Students borrow a median of $16,350 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $35,014. Set against $16,350 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Columbus State Community College landed the #7 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. In-state tuition and fees average $5,488, compared with $11,224 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $9,041. Median earnings reach $39,435 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $9,041 median debt.
Lakeland Community College earned the #8 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Lakeland Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Kirtland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,872, while out-of-state students pay about $9,235. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $19,857 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Lakeland Community College earn a median of $51,941 early in their careers. Set against $19,857 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Edison State Community College landed the #9 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Located in the rural area of Piqua, Edison State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,499 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,346. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $15,406 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Edison State Community College generally make around $43,481. That is a strong return on a $15,406 median debt.
Zane State College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Zane State College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Zanesville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,006, compared with $11,766 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $8,556 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $35,764. Set against $8,556 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Clark State Community College came in at #11 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Clark State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,393 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,049 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,522 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $39,734. That is a strong return on a $15,522 median debt.
Washington State Community College landed the #12 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Located in the town of Marietta, Washington State Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,128, with out-of-state students paying around $4,152. Students borrow a median of $16,291 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Washington State Community College generally make around $45,305. Set against $16,291 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Ohio Technical College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Located in the suburb of Newark, Central Ohio Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,256, compared with $8,016 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $16,779 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $40,065. Set against $16,779 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Owens Community College came in at #14 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the suburb of Perrysburg, Owens Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,870, compared with $10,502 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $15,663 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Owens Community College earn a median of $51,319 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kent State University At Trumbull placed #15 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Set in the rural area of Warren, Kent State University At Trumbull is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,211, with out-of-state students paying around $17,969. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $22,843. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $33,980. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southern State Community College landed the #16 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Southern State Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Hillsboro. In-state tuition and fees average $5,912, compared with $10,818 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $15,282 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Southern State Community College earn a median of $45,611 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,282 median debt.
Eastern Gateway Community College came in at #17 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Eastern Gateway Community College is a large public school located in the city of Steubenville. In-state tuition and fees average $4,225, while out-of-state students pay about $6,071. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $10,642. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Eastern Gateway Community College earn a median of $37,052 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hocking College earned the #18 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Hocking College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Nelsonville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,646, while out-of-state students pay about $10,290. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $14,750. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Hocking College earn a median of $37,002 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,750 median debt.
Great Oaks Career Campuses ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Set in the suburb of Cincinnati, Great Oaks Career Campuses is a small public institution. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $16,673. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $60,896. Set against $16,673 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Greene County Vocational School District placed #20 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Located in the rural area of Xenia, Greene County Vocational School District is a small public university. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $8,919 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $46,623. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Polaris Career Center came in at #21 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the suburb of Middleburg Heights, Polaris Career Center is a small public university. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $6,365. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Polaris Career Center generally make around $41,966. Set against $6,365 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kent State University At Kent earned the #22 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,220, while out-of-state students pay about $21,575. Students borrow a median of $22,843 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Kent State University At Kent generally make around $44,776. Set against $22,843 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Kent State University At Kent admits about 86% of applicants.
Ohio University Main Campus ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,158, compared with $24,838 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,500 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $49,736. That is a strong return on a $13,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus came in at #24 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. Students from in state pay about $13,363 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,697 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,253 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus generally make around $49,712. That is a strong return on a $21,253 median debt. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
Scioto County Career Technical Center came in at #25 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the rural area of Lucasville, Scioto County Career Technical Center is a small public institution. Students borrow a median of $10,072 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Scioto County Career Technical Center earn a median of $31,080 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,072 median debt.
Rest of the Top 27 Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s criminal justice & police science value ranking:
More Criminal Justice & Police Science Rankings
View All Criminal Justice & Police Science Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 46 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
