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Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Great Lakes Region

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2023 Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Great Lakes Region

152 Colleges
$36,578 Avg Salary
$23,701 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Criminal Justice & Corrections School for You

With 113,121 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021, criminal justice and corrections is the #7 most popular major in the United States.

It's not easy to decide which program to enroll in when you have so many options available. As online education oppotunities continue to grow, you're not restricted to just schools in your local area anymore. Even some of the 'big name' schools are offering online courses. Also, there are a number of trade schools with offerings that you might find attractive.

Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Course Advisor has created the Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Great Lakes Region to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 152 schools in the Great Lakes Region to see which programs offered the best educational experiences for students.

View our full ranking methodology.

2023 Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Great Lakes Region

Check out the criminal justice programs at these schools if you want to get the best education that money can buy.

Top 15% Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools

#1

University of Chicago

Chicago, IL

Our analysis found University of Chicago to be the best school for criminal justice and corrections students who want to pursue a degree in the Great Lakes Region . Located in the city of Chicago, UChicago is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at University of Chicago

A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Herzing University - Brookfield is a great place for criminal justice and corrections students. Herzing University - Brookfield is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Brookfield.

After completing their degree, criminal justice graduates from Herzing University - Brookfield carry an average student debtload of $25,971.

Read More…

A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Herzing University - Akron is a great place for criminal justice and corrections students. Herzing Akron is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Akron.

Criminal Justice majors at Herzing Akron take out an average of $25,971 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full Criminal Justice & Corrections at Herzing University - Akron Report

Out of the 152 schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Herzing University - Kenosha landed the # 4 spot on the list. Located in the medium-sized suburb of Kenosha, Herzing University - Kenosha is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

While working on their degree, criminal justice majors at Herzing University - Kenosha accumulate an average of around $25,971 in student debt.

Full Criminal Justice & Corrections at Herzing University - Kenosha Report

Out of the 152 schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Herzing University - Madison landed the # 5 spot on the list. Located in the large city of Madison, Herzing University - Madison is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

Criminal Justice majors at Herzing University - Madison take out an average of $25,971 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read More…

Union Institute & University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the city of Cincinnati, Union is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

On average, criminal justice graduates from Union take out $19,801 in student loans while working on their degree.

Full Criminal Justice & Corrections at Union Institute & University Report

Siena Heights University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for criminal justice and corrections students. It came in at #7 on the list. Located in the distant town of Adrian, Siena Heights University is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

The average amount in student loans that criminal justice majors at Siena Heights University take out is $22,801.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Siena Heights University

With a ranking of #8, Eastern Gateway Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for criminal justice and corrections students. Located in the city of Steubenville, Eastern Gateway Community College is a public school with a very large student population.

Full Criminal Justice & Corrections at Eastern Gateway Community College Report

Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the small city of Carbondale, SIUC is a public college with a large student population.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Southern Illinois University Carbondale

With a ranking of #10, Western Illinois University did quite well on this year’s best schools for criminal justice and corrections students. WIU is a medium-sized public school located in the town of Macomb.

While working on their degree, criminal justice majors at WIU accumulate an average of around $25,000 in student debt. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $218, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Western Illinois University

#11

Marian University

Fond Du Lac, WI

Marian University landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best criminal justice and corrections programs. Marian is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fond Du Lac.

Criminal Justice majors at Marian take out an average of $27,000 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read More…

Concordia University, Wisconsin did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for criminal justice and corrections students. It came in at #12 on the list. Concordia University, Wisconsin is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Mequon.

After completing their degree, criminal justice graduates from Concordia University, Wisconsin carry an average student debtload of $27,000.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Concordia University, Wisconsin

Southwest Wisconsin Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for criminal justice and corrections students. It came in at #13 on the list. Southwest Tech is a small public school located in the rural area of Fennimore.

After completing their degree, criminal justice graduates from Southwest Tech carry an average student debtload of $10,000.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College

#14

Purdue University Global

Indianapolis, IN

Purdue University Global came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the small city of Indianapolis, Purdue University Global is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Criminal Justice majors at Purdue University Global take out an average of $31,610 in student loans while working on their egree.

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Loyola University Chicago ranked #15 on this year’s Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Loyola Chicago is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Chicago.

The average amount in student loans that criminal justice majors at Loyola Chicago take out is $25,000. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $499, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Loyola University Chicago

With a ranking of #16, University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh did quite well on this year’s best schools for criminal justice and corrections students. Located in the small city of Oshkosh, UW Oshkosh is a public college with a large student population.

The average amount in student loans that criminal justice majors at UW Oshkosh take out is $25,869.

Read More…

#17

Schoolcraft College

Livonia, MI

Schoolcraft College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for criminal justice and corrections students. It came in at #17 on the list. Located in the small city of Livonia, Schoolcraft College is a public school with a medium-sized student population.

While working on their degree, criminal justice majors at Schoolcraft College accumulate an average of around $10,376 in student debt.

Read More…

#18

Ball State University

Muncie, IN

Ball State University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Ball State is a fairly large public school located in the small city of Muncie.

After completing their degree, criminal justice graduates from Ball State carry an average student debtload of $24,000. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $204.

Full Criminal Justice & Corrections at Ball State University Report

#19

Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI

Michigan State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for criminal justice and corrections students. It came in at #19 on the list. Located in the small city of East Lansing, Michigan State is a public school with a fairly large student population.

On average, criminal justice graduates from Michigan State take out $25,849 in student loans while working on their degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $398.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Michigan State University

#20

Lewis University

Romeoville, IL

Lewis University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis is a private not-for-profit college with a medium-sized student population.

The average amount in student loans that criminal justice majors at Lewis take out is $21,500.

Read More…

#21

Lakeshore Technical College

Cleveland, WI

With a ranking of #21, Lakeshore Technical College did quite well on this year’s best schools for criminal justice and corrections students. Located in the rural area of Cleveland, LTC is a public college with a small student population.

Full Criminal Justice & Corrections at Lakeshore Technical College Report

Madison Area Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for criminal justice and corrections students. It came in at #22 on the list. Located in the large city of Madison, Madison College is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Criminal Justice majors at Madison College take out an average of $16,964 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read More…

Honorable Mentions

Here are some additional great schools for Criminal Justice & Corrections students in the Great Lakes Region that almost earned our Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Great Lakes Region award.

Rank College Location
23 Trine University-Regional/Non-Traditional Campuses Fort Wayne, IN
24 Mid-State Technical College Wisconsin Rapids, WI
25 University of Wisconsin - Platteville Platteville, WI
26 Illinois State University Normal, IL
27 Gateway Technical College Kenosha, WI
28 University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire Eau Claire, WI
29 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Edwardsville, IL
30 Fox Valley Technical College Appleton, WI

Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Colleges by State

Explore the best criminal justice and corrections schools for a specific state in the Great Lakes region.

State Degrees Awarded
Michigan 2,094
Ohio 2,805
Illinois 2,483
Indiana 2,249
Wisconsin 1,134

Criminal Justice & Corrections is one of 4 different types of programs to choose from.

Related Major Annual Graduates
Fire Protection 13,766
Homeland Security 7,140
Security Science and Technology 6,888
Other Homeland Security 1,695

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

  • Read more about our ranking methodology.
  • 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 the rest 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.

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