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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Criminal Justice Schools in Michigan

8 Colleges in the United States
517 Criminal Justice Degrees Awarded
$43,099 Avg Early-Career Salary

Criminal Justice is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 20 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for criminal justice students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Criminal Justice in Michigan

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall criminal justice education in Michigan.

Top Schools in Criminal Justice

1
Michigan State University crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI

Michigan State University tops our 2026 ranking of the best criminal justice schools. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public university. About 81% of students finish within six years. About 235 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Michigan State University in the most recent year. Criminal Justice graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $57,913 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000. See the full criminal justice program report for Michigan State University

2

A rank of #2 makes Grand Valley State University one of the top schools for criminal justice. This very large public university is located in the town of Allendale. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. There were roughly 107 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Grand Valley State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Grand Valley State University earn around $39,857 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in criminal justice from Grand Valley State University

3
Ferris State University crest
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, MI

A rank of #3 makes Ferris State University one of the top schools for criminal justice. Located in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris State University is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. Ferris State University awarded about 34 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Ferris State University earn a median of $48,266 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,880 to complete this degree. See the full criminal justice program report for Ferris State University

4

A rank of #4 makes Macomb Community College one of the top schools for criminal justice. Macomb Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Warren. About 16 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Macomb Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Macomb Community College generally make around $38,758. Students borrow a median of $6,964 to complete this degree. See the full criminal justice program report for Macomb Community College

5
Lake Superior State University crest
Lake Superior State University
Sault Ste Marie, MI

A rank of #5 makes Lake Superior State University one of the top schools for criminal justice. Lake Superior State University is a small public school located in the town of Sault Ste Marie. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. There were roughly 38 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Lake Superior State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Lake Superior State University earn around $44,286 in the first couple years of their career. Lake Superior State University graduates carry a median of $18,614 in student loans. Read more about the criminal justice program at Lake Superior State University

6
Oakland Community College crest
Oakland Community College
Auburn Hills, MI

Oakland Community College landed the #6 spot for criminal justice this year. Located in the suburb of Auburn Hills, Oakland Community College is a very large public university. About 26 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Oakland Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Oakland Community College generally make around $51,827. Typical student debt for the program is $13,506. See the full criminal justice program report for Oakland Community College

7

Henry Ford Community College earned the #7 position for criminal justice this year. Set in the city of Dearborn, Henry Ford Community College is a large public institution. Henry Ford Community College awarded about 22 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Henry Ford Community College generally make around $26,336. Students borrow a median of $15,200 to complete this degree. See the full criminal justice program report for Henry Ford Community College

8
Adrian College crest
Adrian College
Adrian, MI

Adrian College placed #8 among the best criminal justice schools. Set in the town of Adrian, Adrian College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 45% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 14 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Adrian College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Adrian College earn around $34,112 in the first couple years of their career. Adrian College graduates carry a median of $30,500 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminal justice from Adrian College

9

Northwestern Michigan College earned the #9 position for criminal justice this year. Northwestern Michigan College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Traverse City. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. Northwestern Michigan College awarded about 15 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Northwestern Michigan College earn a median of $57,015 early in their careers. Northwestern Michigan College graduates carry a median of $17,694 in student loans. See the full criminal justice program report for Northwestern Michigan College

10
Kellogg Community College crest
Kellogg Community College
Battle Creek, MI

Kellogg Community College came in at #10 for criminal justice this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Battle Creek. Kellogg Community College awarded about 10 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Kellogg Community College generally make around $32,616. Typical student debt for the program is $20,432. Read more about the criminal justice program at Kellogg Community College

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 20 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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