2026 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in Indiana
[Criminal Justice Studies](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/criminal-justice-studies/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong criminal justice studies education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 26 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value criminal justice studies schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in Indiana
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the criminal justice studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools
Leading the list is Indiana University Northwest, our #1 best value for criminal justice studies in Indiana. Located in the suburb of Gary, Indiana University Northwest is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,424, with out-of-state students paying around $22,811. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $24,471 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $41,295. Set against $24,471 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 73%.
Indiana University Kokomo came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice studies schools. Indiana University Kokomo is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Kokomo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,424, compared with $22,811 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $46,902. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,762, with out-of-state students paying around $34,891. Students borrow a median of $20,300 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earn a median of $46,011 early in their careers. Set against $20,300 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Ivy Tech Community College earned it the #4 place for criminal justice studies. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,154, while out-of-state students pay about $9,935. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $14,215 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Ivy Tech Community College generally make around $33,881. That is a strong return on a $14,215 median debt.
Indiana University Southeast is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Indiana University Southeast is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of New Albany. In-state tuition and fees average $8,424, with out-of-state students paying around $22,811. Students borrow a median of $23,950 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Indiana University Southeast generally make around $41,898. Set against $23,950 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Indiana University Southeast admits about 84% of applicants.
Indiana University South Bend placed #6 among the best values for criminal justice studies. Located in the city of South Bend, Indiana University South Bend is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,424 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,811 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $17,275. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Indiana University South Bend earn a median of $35,462 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,275 median debt. Indiana University South Bend admits about 84% of applicants.
University Of Southern Indiana placed #7 among the best values for criminal justice studies. University Of Southern Indiana is a large public school located in the suburb of Evansville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,066, while out-of-state students pay about $22,907. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $20,000. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $39,384. That is a strong return on a $20,000 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Purdue University Global came in at #8 for value in criminal justice studies this year. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Global is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,101 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,412 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,137 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Purdue University Global generally make around $52,005. That is a strong return on a $25,137 median debt.
Indiana University Bloomington came in at #9 for value in criminal justice studies this year. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,144 in tuition and fees, compared with $41,891 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $19,464. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $35,572. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Indiana University Bloomington admits about 78% of applicants.
Oakland City University landed the #10 spot for criminal justice studies value this year. Set in the rural area of Oakland City, Oakland City University is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $27,900. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $24,657 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $46,038. That is a strong return on a $24,657 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Ball State University placed #11 among the best values for criminal justice studies. Ball State University is a very large public school located in the city of Muncie. Students from in state pay about $11,082 in tuition and fees, compared with $29,630 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,367 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $39,991. Set against $23,367 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ball State University admits about 86% of applicants.
Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global landed the #12 spot for criminal justice studies value this year. Located in the rural area of Marion, Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $9,648 in tuition and fees. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $29,738 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $46,154. Set against $29,738 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Grace College And Theological Seminary landed the #13 spot for criminal justice studies value this year. Grace College And Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Winona Lake. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $29,645. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Grace College And Theological Seminary generally make around $32,381. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana Institute Of Technology College Of Professional Studies landed the #14 spot for criminal justice studies value this year. Indiana Institute Of Technology College Of Professional Studies is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fort Wayne. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,896. Students borrow a median of $37,273 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $35,419. That is a strong return on a $37,273 median debt.
Calumet College Of Saint Joseph earned the #15 position for value in criminal justice studies this year. Calumet College Of Saint Joseph is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Whiting. In-state tuition and fees average $23,850. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $23,856 in student loans. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Calumet College Of Saint Joseph earn a median of $55,587 early in their careers. Set against $23,856 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Indiana Institute Of Technology earned the #16 position for value in criminal justice studies this year. Located in the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,361. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $37,273. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Indiana Institute Of Technology generally make around $35,419. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Indiana Institute Of Technology admits about 70% of applicants.
Indiana Wesleyan University placed #17 among the best values for criminal justice studies. Indiana Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Marion. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $32,352. Students borrow a median of $29,738 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $46,154. That is a strong return on a $29,738 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Trine University landed the #18 spot for criminal justice studies value this year. Trine University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Angola. In-state tuition and fees average $36,560. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Trine University earn a median of $37,841 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
More Criminal Justice Studies Rankings
View All Criminal Justice Studies Rankings >
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 · 26 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 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.
