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2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in Ohio

28 Colleges in the United States
$19,616 Avg Student Debt
$45,647 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Badge [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 best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 92 schools to find the best return on investment for criminal justice & corrections students.

What’s on this page:

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2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in Ohio

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

1

Leading the list is Cuyahoga Community College District, our #1 best value for criminal justice & corrections in Ohio. Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Cleveland. Students from in state pay about $3,249 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,249. Students borrow a median of $7,149 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Cuyahoga Community College District generally make around $38,595. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

2

North Central State College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the rural area of Mansfield, North Central State College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,786, compared with $11,374 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $10,782. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from North Central State College generally make around $50,218. Set against $10,782 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

3

A rank of #3 makes Marion Technical College one of the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the town of Marion, Marion Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,595, with out-of-state students paying around $11,225. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $11,828. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $48,132. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

4

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Sinclair Community College earned it the #4 place for criminal justice & corrections. Sinclair Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Dayton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,675, while out-of-state students pay about $8,556. Students borrow a median of $11,054 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Sinclair Community College earn a median of $29,888 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,054 median debt.

5

A rank of #5 makes Lorain County Community College one of the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Lorain County Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Elyria. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,265, with out-of-state students paying around $8,860. Students borrow a median of $17,611 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Lorain County Community College earn a median of $40,095 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,611 median debt.

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6

Lakeland Community College earned the #6 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Lakeland Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Kirtland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,872, with out-of-state students paying around $9,235. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $19,857. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Lakeland Community College generally make around $51,941. Set against $19,857 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

7
Stark State College crest
Stark State College
North Canton, OH

Stark State College earned the #7 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Stark State College is a large public school located in the suburb of North Canton. Students from in state pay about $4,790 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,886 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,350 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Stark State College earn a median of $35,014 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

8

Columbus State Community College came in at #8 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Columbus State Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,488, while out-of-state students pay about $11,224. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $9,041 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $39,435. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

9

University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College earned the #9 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College is a large public school located in the suburb of Blue Ash. Students from in state pay about $7,106 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,904. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $16,799 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College earn a median of $38,399 early in their careers. Set against $16,799 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

10

University Of Cincinnati Clermont College earned the #10 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the suburb of Batavia, University Of Cincinnati Clermont College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,639, compared with $13,871 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $16,799. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of University Of Cincinnati Clermont College earn a median of $38,399 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

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11

Edison State Community College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the rural area of Piqua, Edison State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,499, while out-of-state students pay about $8,346. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $15,406. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Edison State Community College generally make around $43,481. Set against $15,406 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

12
Owens Community College crest
Owens Community College
Perrysburg, OH

Owens Community College placed #12 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Owens Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Perrysburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,870, while out-of-state students pay about $10,502. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $15,663. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $51,319. Set against $15,663 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

13

Central Ohio Technical College landed the #13 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Central Ohio Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Newark. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,256, with out-of-state students paying around $8,016. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $16,779. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Central Ohio Technical College earn a median of $40,065 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

14

Clark State Community College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Clark State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Springfield. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,393, compared with $8,049 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $15,522 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Clark State Community College earn a median of $39,734 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

15

Washington State Community College came in at #15 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Washington State Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Marietta. Students from in state pay about $4,128 in tuition and fees, compared with $4,152 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $16,291. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Washington State Community College earn a median of $45,305 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

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Zane State College crest
Zane State College
Zanesville, OH

Zane State College placed #16 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Zane State College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Zanesville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,006, compared with $11,766 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,556 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Zane State College earn a median of $35,764 early in their careers. Set against $8,556 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

17

Kent State University At Trumbull ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the rural area of Warren, Kent State University At Trumbull is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,211, while out-of-state students pay about $17,969. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $22,843 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Kent State University At Trumbull generally make around $33,980. Set against $22,843 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

18

Youngstown State University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Youngstown State University is a large public school located in the city of Youngstown. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,926, while out-of-state students pay about $10,286. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $24,465. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Youngstown State University earn a median of $37,325 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Youngstown State University admits about 84% of applicants.

19

Southern State Community College came in at #19 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the town of Hillsboro, Southern State Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,912 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,818. Students borrow a median of $15,282 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $45,611. That is a strong return on a $15,282 median debt.

20
Hocking College crest
Hocking College
Nelsonville, OH

Hocking College placed #20 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the rural area of Nelsonville, Hocking College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,646 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,290. Students borrow a median of $14,750 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Hocking College generally make around $37,002. That is a strong return on a $14,750 median debt.

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21

Miami University Hamilton came in at #21 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Miami University Hamilton is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Hamilton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,012, compared with $18,811 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,505 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $36,612. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

22

University Of Akron Main Campus earned the #22 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,135, with out-of-state students paying around $20,815. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $21,313 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from University Of Akron Main Campus generally make around $36,821. That is a strong return on a $21,313 median debt. The acceptance rate is 60%.

23

Great Oaks Career Campuses placed #23 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the suburb of Cincinnati, Great Oaks Career Campuses is a small public institution. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $16,673. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $60,896. That is a strong return on a $16,673 median debt.

24

Greene County Vocational School District earned the #24 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Greene County Vocational School District is a small public school located in the rural area of Xenia. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $8,919. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Greene County Vocational School District generally make around $46,623. Set against $8,919 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

25

University Of Toledo ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. University Of Toledo is a large public school located in the city of Toledo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,157, with out-of-state students paying around $21,517. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $37,548. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.

Rest of the Top 48 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools

These schools also delivered strong value for criminal justice & corrections this year:

26
Central State University crest
Central State University
Wilberforce, OH
27
Walsh University crest
Walsh University
North Canton, OH
28
29
Polaris Career Center crest
Polaris Career Center
Middleburg Heights, OH
30
31
32
33
34
Muskingum University crest
Muskingum University
New Concord, OH
35
Lake Erie College crest
Lake Erie College
Painesville, OH
36
Ashland University crest
Ashland University
Ashland, OH
37
Lourdes College crest
Lourdes College
Sylvania, OH
38
39
Franklin University crest
Franklin University
Columbus, OH
40
41
Wilmington College crest
Wilmington College
Wilmington, OH
42
43
Defiance College crest
Defiance College
Defiance, OH
44
Tiffin University crest
Tiffin University
Tiffin, OH
45
Cedarville University crest
Cedarville University
Cedarville, OH
46
47
48
Xavier University crest
Xavier University
Cincinnati, OH

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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 · 92 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 28 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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