2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in Michigan
[Criminal Justice & Corrections](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong criminal justice & corrections education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 51 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools.
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2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in Michigan
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in criminal justice & corrections, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools
Our analysis ranked Lansing Community College the best value for a degree in criminal justice & corrections in Michigan. Set in the city of Lansing, Lansing Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,100, while out-of-state students pay about $11,300. Students borrow a median of $16,700 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Lansing Community College earn a median of $46,103 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,700 median debt.
Washtenaw Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & corrections, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,736 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,504. Students borrow a median of $28,059 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Washtenaw Community College generally make around $67,732. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Henry Ford Community College one of the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Located in the city of Dearborn, Henry Ford Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,568, while out-of-state students pay about $7,816. Students borrow a median of $15,200 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Henry Ford Community College generally make around $26,336. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Oakland Community College earned it the #4 place for criminal justice & corrections. Oakland Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Auburn Hills. Students from in state pay about $3,120 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,560. Students borrow a median of $13,506 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $51,827. Set against $13,506 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice & corrections will find it at Delta College, which ranked #5. Delta College is a large public school located in the rural area of University Center. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,820, compared with $7,880 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,784 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Delta College earn a median of $44,637 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Schoolcraft College came in at #6 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the city of Livonia, Schoolcraft College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,799, with out-of-state students paying around $6,501. Students borrow a median of $11,868 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $49,224. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Macomb Community College placed #7 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the city of Warren, Macomb Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,660, while out-of-state students pay about $8,370. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $6,964. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $38,758. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kellogg Community College came in at #8 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the city of Battle Creek, Kellogg Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,118, compared with $8,282 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,432 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Kellogg Community College earn a median of $32,616 early in their careers. Set against $20,432 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northwestern Michigan College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the city of Traverse City, Northwestern Michigan College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,860, compared with $13,476 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $17,694. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Northwestern Michigan College generally make around $57,015. That is a strong return on a $17,694 median debt.
Mott Community College landed the #10 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Located in the city of Flint, Mott Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,845, with out-of-state students paying around $11,460. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $16,781. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Mott Community College earn a median of $34,127 early in their careers. Set against $16,781 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southwestern Michigan College placed #11 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Southwestern Michigan College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Dowagiac. Students from in state pay about $6,417 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,394 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,575 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Southwestern Michigan College earn a median of $43,153 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,575 median debt.
Jackson Community College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the rural area of Jackson, Jackson Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $7,350 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,200. Students borrow a median of $16,960 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Jackson Community College generally make around $39,162. That is a strong return on a $16,960 median debt.
Wayne County Community College District landed the #13 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Set in the city of Detroit, Wayne County Community College District is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,112 in tuition and fees, compared with $4,067 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $20,820. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Wayne County Community College District earn a median of $48,892 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,820 median debt.
St Clair County Community College placed #14 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the suburb of Port Huron, St Clair County Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,212, with out-of-state students paying around $12,150. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $16,379 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of St Clair County Community College earn a median of $32,691 early in their careers. Set against $16,379 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Bay De Noc Community College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the town of Escanaba, Bay De Noc Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,214, with out-of-state students paying around $11,453. Students borrow a median of $17,625 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Bay De Noc Community College generally make around $39,075. That is a strong return on a $17,625 median debt.
Ferris State University earned the #16 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,778 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $21,880 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $48,266. Set against $21,880 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ferris State University admits about 91% of applicants.
Kirtland Community College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Kirtland Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Grayling. Students from in state pay about $5,190 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,870. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $17,333 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $50,469. That is a strong return on a $17,333 median debt.
Grand Rapids Community College placed #18 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Located in the city of Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,179, compared with $12,219 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $11,851. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Grand Rapids Community College earn a median of $53,664 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,851 median debt.
Oakland University placed #19 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Oakland University is a large public school located in the suburb of Rochester Hills. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,167, while out-of-state students pay about $24,735. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $35,705. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Lake Michigan College earned the #20 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the rural area of Benton Harbor, Lake Michigan College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,445, compared with $7,755 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $14,473 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $50,185. That is a strong return on a $14,473 median debt.
University Of Michigan Flint landed the #21 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. University Of Michigan Flint is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Flint. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,236, while out-of-state students pay about $27,790. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $35,912. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Michigan Flint admits about 70% of applicants.
Lake Superior State University earned the #22 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Lake Superior State University is a small public school located in the town of Sault Ste Marie. In-state tuition and fees average $14,890. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $18,614 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $44,286. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Saginaw Valley State University came in at #23 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Saginaw Valley State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of University Center. In-state tuition and fees average $12,930, compared with $30,450 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $27,824. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $40,049. Set against $27,824 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Wayne State University placed #24 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,159, while out-of-state students pay about $34,650. Students borrow a median of $28,604 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Wayne State University generally make around $46,920. Set against $28,604 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Central Michigan University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,480. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $27,857 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Central Michigan University earn a median of $50,688 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,857 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 35 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in criminal justice & corrections:
More Criminal Justice & Corrections Rankings
View All Criminal Justice & Corrections Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 51 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 27 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.
