2026 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in Illinois

1

City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College
Chicago, IL

Leading the list is City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College, our #1 best value for criminal justice studies in Illinois. Located in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,590, with out-of-state students paying around $15,150. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $8,093. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College generally make around $33,073. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

2

City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College
Chicago, IL

City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice studies schools. Set in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,590 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,150. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $7,500. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $33,326. That is a strong return on a $7,500 median debt.

3

Joliet Junior College
Joliet, IL

Students looking for strong value in criminal justice studies will find it at Joliet Junior College, which ranked #3. Joliet Junior College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Joliet. Students from in state pay about $4,530 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $13,800. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $11,995. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $40,118. That is a strong return on a $11,995 median debt.

4

University Of Illinois At Springfield
Springfield, IL

Students looking for strong value in criminal justice studies will find it at University Of Illinois At Springfield, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Springfield, University Of Illinois At Springfield is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,557, compared with $20,139 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $22,418. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Springfield generally make around $41,064. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Illinois At Springfield admits about 86% of applicants.

5

Governors State University
University Park, IL

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Governors State University earned it the #5 place for criminal justice studies. Governors State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of University Park. Students from in state pay about $12,004 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,889 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Governors State University generally make around $42,456. That is a strong return on a $22,889 median debt. Roughly 48% of applicants are accepted.

6

Kishwaukee College
Malta, IL

Kishwaukee College landed the #6 spot for criminal justice studies value this year. Kishwaukee College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Malta. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,560, while out-of-state students pay about $13,680. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $10,328. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $30,398. Set against $10,328 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

7

City Colleges Of Chicago Olive Harvey College
Chicago, IL

City Colleges Of Chicago Olive Harvey College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice studies schools. City Colleges Of Chicago Olive Harvey College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,590, compared with $15,150 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $8,478 in student loans. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of City Colleges Of Chicago Olive Harvey College earn a median of $25,842 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

8

Saint Xavier University
Chicago, IL

Saint Xavier University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice studies schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $38,945 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $39,033. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Saint Xavier University admits about 84% of applicants.

9

University Of Illinois At Chicago
Chicago, IL

University Of Illinois At Chicago ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice studies schools. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,949, compared with $32,009 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,875 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $34,551 early in their careers. Set against $15,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.

10

Northeastern Illinois University
Chicago, IL

Northeastern Illinois University landed the #10 spot for criminal justice studies value this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,383, compared with $22,726 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $13,625. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Northeastern Illinois University generally make around $40,719. That is a strong return on a $13,625 median debt. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.

11

Chicago State University
Chicago, IL

Chicago State University came in at #11 for value in criminal justice studies this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Chicago State University is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $12,754 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,757 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $32,974 in student loans. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Chicago State University earn a median of $35,419 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $32,974 median debt. Chicago State University admits about 43% of applicants.

12

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Edwardsville, IL

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice studies schools. Located in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,092. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earn a median of $39,279 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville admits about 98% of applicants.

13

Lewis University
Romeoville, IL

Lewis University placed #13 among the best values for criminal justice studies. Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Romeoville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,200. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $20,000. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Lewis University earn a median of $66,865 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 71%.

14

Aurora University
Aurora, IL

Aurora University came in at #14 for value in criminal justice studies this year. Located in the suburb of Aurora, Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $29,170 in tuition and fees. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $23,635 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $44,150. Set against $23,635 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 81%.

15

Illinois State University
Normal, IL

Illinois State University came in at #15 for value in criminal justice studies this year. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,410, while out-of-state students pay about $26,058. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $22,531 in student loans. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $37,584 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.

16

Roosevelt University
Chicago, IL

Roosevelt University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice studies schools. Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,315. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $24,625 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $41,203. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.

17

Olivet Nazarene University
Bourbonnais, IL

Olivet Nazarene University came in at #17 for value in criminal justice studies this year. Located in the suburb of Bourbonnais, Olivet Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,900. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $34,877. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 56%.

18

Benedictine University
Lisle, IL

Benedictine University landed the #18 spot for criminal justice studies value this year. Set in the suburb of Lisle, Benedictine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $32,648. Students borrow a median of $25,979 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Benedictine University earn a median of $46,020 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%.

19

Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, IL

Loyola University Chicago placed #19 among the best values for criminal justice studies. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $53,710 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $58,568. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Loyola University Chicago admits about 82% of applicants.