by our College Data Analytics Team
[Criminology](/majors/social-sciences/criminology/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 45 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for criminology students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in criminology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Millikin University tops our 2026 list of the best value criminology schools in the Great Lakes Region. Millikin University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Decatur. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $26,792. Students borrow a median of $26,036 to complete the criminology program here. Early-career criminology graduates make about $58,852. Set against $26,036 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Millikin University admits about 67% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in criminology will find it at Indiana State University, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Terre Haute, Indiana State University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,258, while out-of-state students pay about $22,322. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $24,970. Criminology graduates of Indiana State University earn a median of $44,201 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Michigan Dearborn is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminology, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Dearborn, University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,640, while out-of-state students pay about $32,896. Criminology graduates carry a median of $26,516 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from University Of Michigan Dearborn generally make around $62,536. Set against $26,516 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Michigan Dearborn admits about 56% of applicants.
Northern Illinois University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value criminology schools. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,060. Criminology graduates carry a median of $25,209 in student loans. Criminology graduates of Northern Illinois University earn a median of $52,308 early in their careers. Set against $25,209 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 70%.
University Of Wisconsin River Falls came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value criminology schools. Located in the town of River Falls, University Of Wisconsin River Falls is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $9,008 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,470 for out-of-state students. Criminology graduates carry a median of $24,750 in student loans. Criminology graduates of University Of Wisconsin River Falls earn a median of $45,113 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
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University Of Wisconsin Whitewater came in at #6 for value in criminology this year. Set in the town of Whitewater, University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,616, while out-of-state students pay about $18,716. Criminology graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Whitewater generally make around $40,060. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #7 for value in criminology this year. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,603, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $21,813. Criminology graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $59,877 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,813 median debt. University Of Wisconsin Madison admits about 45% of applicants.
Cleveland State University earned the #8 position for value in criminology this year. Located in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,982, while out-of-state students pay about $18,502. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the criminology program here. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Cleveland State University generally make around $32,393. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Cleveland State University admits about 91% of applicants.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale placed #9 among the best values for criminology. Set in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,334 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,000 to complete the criminology program here. Early-career criminology graduates make about $37,645. Set against $24,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
National Louis University placed #10 among the best values for criminology. Set in the city of Chicago, National Louis University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,245. Criminology graduates carry a median of $23,437 in student loans. Early-career criminology graduates make about $30,170. That is a strong return on a $23,437 median debt. National Louis University admits about 95% of applicants.
Wright State University Main Campus placed #11 among the best values for criminology. Located in the suburb of Dayton, Wright State University Main Campus is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,991, while out-of-state students pay about $20,691. Criminology graduates carry a median of $27,250 in student loans. Criminology graduates of Wright State University Main Campus earn a median of $37,476 early in their careers. Set against $27,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Ohio State University Main Campus landed the #12 spot for criminology value this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,244, compared with $40,022 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,922 to complete the criminology program here. Criminology graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $39,396 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Stout placed #13 among the best values for criminology. University Of Wisconsin Stout is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Menomonie. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,701, with out-of-state students paying around $19,265. Criminology graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Criminology graduates of University Of Wisconsin Stout earn a median of $49,004 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Eastern Michigan University earned the #14 position for value in criminology this year. Eastern Michigan University is a large public school located in the suburb of Ypsilanti. Students from in state pay about $16,990 in tuition and fees. Criminology graduates carry a median of $29,000 in student loans. Early-career criminology graduates make about $36,891. That is a strong return on a $29,000 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value criminology schools. Located in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,912, while out-of-state students pay about $21,900. Criminology graduates carry a median of $25,449 in student loans. Early-career criminology graduates make about $57,019. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Bowling Green State University Main Campus admits about 81% of applicants.
Valparaiso University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value criminology schools. Located in the suburb of Valparaiso, Valparaiso University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $48,450. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $27,000. Criminology graduates of Valparaiso University earn a median of $30,653 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Lakeland College placed #17 among the best values for criminology. Lakeland College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Plymouth. In-state tuition and fees average $33,396. Students borrow a median of $26,053 to complete the criminology program here. Early-career criminology graduates make about $45,276. That is a strong return on a $26,053 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Rockford College earned the #18 position for value in criminology this year. Rockford College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Rockford. In-state tuition and fees average $37,780. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $28,094. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Rockford College generally make around $56,020. Set against $28,094 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Capital University earned the #19 position for value in criminology this year. Capital University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Columbus. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $43,234. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Capital University generally make around $32,984. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Capital University admits about 70% of applicants.
Depaul University landed the #20 spot for criminology value this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $45,405 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $25,310. Criminology graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $55,226 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Marquette University landed the #21 spot for criminology value this year. Set in the city of Milwaukee, Marquette University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $51,170. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the criminology program here. Criminology graduates of Marquette University earn a median of $35,650 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Marquette University admits about 81% of applicants.
Butler University earned the #22 position for value in criminology this year. Butler University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Indianapolis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $47,560. Criminology graduates carry a median of $25,351 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Butler University generally make around $68,222. That is a strong return on a $25,351 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Mary Of The Woods College earned the #23 position for value in criminology this year. Located in the rural area of Saint Mary of the Woods, Saint Mary Of The Woods College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,240. Criminology graduates carry a median of $28,366 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Saint Mary Of The Woods College generally make around $48,088. Set against $28,366 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
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 · 45 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 21 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.