2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in Indiana
[Criminal Justice & Corrections](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 31 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in Indiana
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the criminal justice & corrections degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools
Leading the list is Indiana University Northwest, our #1 best value for criminal justice & corrections in Indiana. Indiana University Northwest is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Gary. In-state tuition and fees average $8,424, compared with $22,811 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,471 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Indiana University Northwest earn a median of $41,295 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 73%.
Indiana University Kokomo came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the city of Kokomo, Indiana University Kokomo is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,424 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,811. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $39,833. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
A rank of #3 makes Ivy Tech Community College one of the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,154, with out-of-state students paying around $9,935. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $14,215 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $33,881. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes Indiana University Southeast one of the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Located in the suburb of New Albany, Indiana University Southeast is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,424 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,811. Students borrow a median of $23,950 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Indiana University Southeast generally make around $41,898. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Purdue University Northwest earned it the #5 place for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the suburb of Hammond, Purdue University Northwest is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,357, with out-of-state students paying around $15,504. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $25,083 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $51,424. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earned the #6 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public school located in the city of Indianapolis. 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 & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis generally make around $46,011. That is a strong return on a $20,300 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University South Bend came in at #7 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the city of South Bend, Indiana University South Bend is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,424, with out-of-state students paying around $22,811. Students borrow a median of $17,275 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $35,462. That is a strong return on a $17,275 median debt. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Vincennes University earned the #8 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the town of Vincennes, Vincennes University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,126, with out-of-state students paying around $16,858. Students borrow a median of $17,587 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $40,696. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Indiana University East earned the #9 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Indiana University East is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Richmond. Students from in state pay about $8,424 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,811. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $28,686 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $45,204. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Indiana University East admits about 67% of applicants.
University Of Southern Indiana earned the #10 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the suburb of Evansville, University Of Southern Indiana is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,066, with out-of-state students paying around $22,907. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of University Of Southern Indiana earn a median of $39,384 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Southern Indiana admits about 96% of applicants.
Indiana University Bloomington ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,144, compared with $41,891 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,464 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $35,572. Set against $19,464 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Purdue University Global landed the #12 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Purdue University Global is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,101, compared with $14,412 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,137 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Purdue University Global earn a median of $52,005 early in their careers. Set against $25,137 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Oakland City University landed the #13 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Located in the rural area of Oakland City, Oakland City University is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,900. Students borrow a median of $24,657 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Oakland City University generally make around $46,038. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Ball State University landed the #14 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Set in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,082, compared with $29,630 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $23,367 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Ball State University generally make around $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 placed #15 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the rural area of Marion, Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,648. Students borrow a median of $29,738 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $46,154. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Indianapolis placed #16 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. University Of Indianapolis is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Indianapolis. In-state tuition and fees average $37,200. Students borrow a median of $26,324 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from University Of Indianapolis generally make around $44,418. That is a strong return on a $26,324 median debt. The acceptance rate is 66%.
Grace College And Theological Seminary earned the #17 position for value in criminal justice & corrections 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. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $23,250. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Grace College And Theological Seminary earn a median of $32,381 early in their careers. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Indiana Institute Of Technology College Of Professional Studies landed the #18 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Located in the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana Institute Of Technology College Of Professional Studies is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,896. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $37,273 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Indiana Institute Of Technology College Of Professional Studies earn a median of $35,419 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Calumet College Of Saint Joseph came in at #19 for value in criminal justice & corrections 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 & Corrections graduates carry a median of $23,856 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $55,587. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Indiana Institute Of Technology came in at #20 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,361. Students borrow a median of $37,273 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Indiana Institute Of Technology earn a median of $35,419 early in their careers. Set against $37,273 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana Wesleyan University landed the #21 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Located in the town of Marion, Indiana Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $32,352. Students borrow a median of $29,738 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Indiana Wesleyan University earn a median of $46,154 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Indiana Wesleyan University admits about 89% of applicants.
Trine University earned the #22 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the town of Angola, Trine University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $36,560. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Trine University earn a median of $37,841 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 31 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 19 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.
