2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools in Wisconsin
[Criminal Justice & Police Science](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/criminal-justice-and-police-science/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong criminal justice & police science education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 16 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value criminal justice & police science schools.
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2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools in Wisconsin
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 Gateway Technical College this year. Located in the city of Kenosha, Gateway Technical College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,956, compared with $7,199 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $16,084 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $56,350. That is a strong return on a $16,084 median debt.
Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & police science, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the town of Rice Lake, Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,926, while out-of-state students pay about $7,169. Students borrow a median of $10,252 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College generally make around $44,966. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Nicolet Area Technical College earned it the #3 place for criminal justice & police science. Set in the rural area of Rhinelander, Nicolet Area Technical College is a small public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,793 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,066 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $11,400. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Nicolet Area Technical College generally make around $53,660. That is a strong return on a $11,400 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Waukesha County Technical College earned it the #4 place for criminal justice & police science. Waukesha County Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of Pewaukee. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,803, compared with $7,046 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $16,813. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Waukesha County Technical College earn a median of $55,353 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 Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Green Bay, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,960 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,203 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $14,997. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Northeast Wisconsin Technical College earn a median of $36,713 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,997 median debt.
Blackhawk Technical College came in at #6 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the suburb of Janesville, Blackhawk Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,747 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,803 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $14,937. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Blackhawk Technical College generally make around $54,417. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mid State Technical College landed the #7 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Set in the town of Wisconsin Rapids, Mid State Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,002 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,171 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $13,500. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Mid State Technical College earn a median of $41,678 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fox Valley Technical College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Located in the suburb of Appleton, Fox Valley Technical College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,040, compared with $7,283 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $17,125. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Fox Valley Technical College earn a median of $52,156 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,125 median debt.
Northcentral Technical College earned the #9 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the city of Wausau, Northcentral Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,889, compared with $7,132 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $14,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Northcentral Technical College generally make around $49,533. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Chippewa Valley Technical College placed #10 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Set in the city of Eau Claire, Chippewa Valley Technical College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,844, while out-of-state students pay about $7,087. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $13,537 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Chippewa Valley Technical College earn a median of $49,204 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,537 median debt.
Western Technical College La Cross placed #11 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Located in the city of La Crosse, Western Technical College La Cross is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,820, compared with $7,078 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,494 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Western Technical College La Cross earn a median of $59,276 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,494 median debt.
Madison Area Technical College landed the #12 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Madison Area Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Madison. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,977, while out-of-state students pay about $7,141. Students borrow a median of $13,750 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Madison Area Technical College earn a median of $39,174 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,750 median debt.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.
