Best Value Criminal Justice and Corrections Colleges in Ohio

Ohio's criminal justice programs show a dramatic earnings gap, with Herzing University-Akron graduates earning $58,943 compared to Central State University's $30,409. This nearly $29,000 difference reflects varying program focuses and career paths within the field. Public universities dominate the affordable end, with Youngstown State offering the lowest net price at $11,877 while maintaining a solid 52.90% graduation rate. Ohio's law enforcement market includes major metropolitan police departments in Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati, plus corrections facilities that employ thousands statewide. The state's manufacturing sector also creates demand for corporate security and loss prevention specialists. Private institutions like Herzing command higher costs but deliver stronger earning potential, while public options provide accessible entry points into careers ranging from police work to federal law enforcement. Students benefit from Ohio's central location for internships with state agencies and proximity to major urban crime labs and court systems.

Programs

$4,503 – $32,342

Net Price Range

$35,217

Avg. Program Earnings

44.9%

Avg. Graduation Rate

46 Criminal Justice and Corrections Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	Program Earnings	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	Herzing University-Akron Akron, Ohio	$20,320	$58,943	$13,420	21.2%	93.9%
2	Youngstown State University Youngstown, Ohio	$11,877	$32,874	$10,791	52.9%	80.6%
3	Miami University-Hamilton Hamilton, Ohio	$13,346	$33,281	$7,278	21.6%
4	Miami University-Middletown Middletown, Ohio	$13,824	$33,281	$7,278	24.5%
5	University of Akron Main Campus Akron, Ohio	$14,981	$33,815	$12,799	48.2%	82.9%
6	University of Toledo Toledo, Ohio	$17,460	$34,348	$12,377	55.6%	92.2%
7	Bowling Green State University-Main Campus Bowling Green, Ohio	$20,918	$38,878	$14,081	62.8%	78.7%
8	Central State University Wilberforce, Ohio	$16,544	$30,409	$7,824	25.6%	88.8%
9	Franklin University Columbus, Ohio	$22,605	$39,523	$9,577	30.3%
10	Ashland University Ashland, Ohio	$21,994	$37,568	$28,910	60.6%	71.8%
11	Lake Erie College Painesville, Ohio	$21,296	$35,600	$36,032	41.9%	54.1%
12	The University of Findlay Findlay, Ohio	$23,731	$39,009	$39,646	62.6%	86.0%
13	Mount Vernon Nazarene University Mount Vernon, Ohio	$21,812	$35,416	$35,524	63.6%	85.3%
14	Muskingum University New Concord, Ohio	$20,204	$32,772	$31,440	52.7%	86.4%
15	Heidelberg University Tiffin, Ohio	$21,662	$33,993	$33,628	49.8%	71.4%
16	Kent State University at Kent Kent, Ohio	$19,614	$30,475	$12,846	65.5%	88.0%
17	Baldwin Wallace University Berea, Ohio	$27,654	$41,937	$37,938	68.6%	77.0%
18	Lourdes University Sylvania, Ohio	$21,596	$31,305	$28,930	38.1%	60.4%
19	University of Cincinnati-Main Campus Cincinnati, Ohio	$23,156	$33,410	$13,570	71.5%	86.2%
20	Defiance College Defiance, Ohio	$23,722	$33,993	$38,778	36.7%	62.9%
21	Wilmington College Wilmington, Ohio	$22,872	$31,133	$30,962	55.1%	88.1%
22	Tiffin University Tiffin, Ohio	$23,758	$30,988	$32,400	43.0%	82.8%
23	University of Mount Union Alliance, Ohio	$22,539	$28,960	$35,400	64.9%	75.8%
24	Miami University-Oxford Oxford, Ohio	$27,662	$33,281	$17,809	81.8%	87.9%
25	University of Dayton Dayton, Ohio	$31,236	$36,992	$47,600	81.5%	74.1%
26	Xavier University Cincinnati, Ohio	$32,342	$33,459	$48,125	70.5%	84.5%
27	Ohio University-Zanesville Campus Zanesville, Ohio	$5,971		$6,178	17.7%
28	Bluffton University Bluffton, Ohio	$17,430		$36,298	49.5%	96.3%
29	Ohio University-Main Campus Athens, Ohio	$20,413		$13,746	66.4%	86.5%
30	Walsh University North Canton, Ohio	$20,004		$34,595	61.7%	72.5%
31	Wilberforce University Wilberforce, Ohio	$7,349		$14,776	16.0%	45.1%
32	Ohio University-Lancaster Campus Lancaster, Ohio	$6,133		$6,178	13.7%
33	Ohio University-Southern Campus Ironton, Ohio	$5,328		$6,178	19.3%
34	Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus Chillicothe, Ohio	$6,483		$6,178	12.1%
35	Ohio University-Eastern Campus Saint Clairsville, Ohio	$4,503		$6,178	20.0%
36	Ohio Northern University Ada, Ohio	$25,727		$37,800	74.2%	54.4%
37	Notre Dame College Cleveland, Ohio	$20,477		$32,606	36.6%	78.5%
38	Malone University Canton, Ohio	$22,881		$36,120	51.3%	77.6%
39	Kent State University at Salem Salem, Ohio	$11,593		$7,272	28.2%
40	Kent State University at Tuscarawas New Philadelphia, Ohio	$11,480		$7,272	37.1%
41	Kent State University at Trumbull Warren, Ohio	$10,679		$7,272	26.8%
42	Kent State University at Stark North Canton, Ohio	$11,310		$7,272	37.3%
43	Kent State University at East Liverpool East Liverpool, Ohio	$10,569		$7,272	9.8%
44	Kent State University at Ashtabula Ashtabula, Ohio	$10,753		$7,272	25.8%
45	Ohio Christian University Circleville, Ohio	$21,607		$23,700	35.7%
46	Cedarville University Cedarville, Ohio	$25,022		$36,078	74.3%	64.9%

Frequently Asked Questions

What explains the $47,066 earnings gap between the highest and lowest-paying programs?

Herzing University-Akron graduates earn $58,943 while Central State University graduates average $30,409, reflecting different program specializations and career tracks. Herzing's focus on federal law enforcement and forensic science leads to higher-paying positions. Central State emphasizes community corrections and social services roles that typically offer lower starting salaries. The private versus public institution factor also influences these outcomes through different industry connections and internship partnerships.

How do Ohio's public universities compare for criminal justice value?

Youngstown State delivers the best public value with an $11,877 net price and $32,874 earnings, generating strong return on investment. University of Toledo offers the highest public earnings at $34,348 with a $17,460 net cost and 55.60% graduation rate. Miami University's regional campuses provide the lowest in-state tuition at $7,278, though earnings remain modest at $33,281. Public options generally cost $11,000-$21,000 compared to private schools averaging $20,000-$24,000.

Is debt load manageable for Ohio criminal justice graduates?

Most programs keep debt reasonable, with the Miami University campuses reporting just $19,500 in average debt. However, Central State graduates carry $31,000 in debt against $30,409 earnings, creating potential repayment challenges. Herzing graduates face $19,310 debt but earn $58,943, making payments much more manageable. The majority of schools fall between $21,000-$27,000 in debt levels, aligning well with typical criminal justice starting salaries.

Does graduation rate correlate with program cost in Ohio?

Higher-cost programs generally show better graduation rates, with Mount Vernon Nazarene achieving 63.60% at a $21,812 net cost. Bowling Green State reaches 62.80% graduation rates while charging $20,918 annually. However, some exceptions exist like Central State's 25.60% rate despite reasonable costs. The pattern suggests that private institutions and well-funded public programs provide better student support services that improve completion rates.

Where do Ohio criminal justice graduates find employment opportunities?

Ohio's major cities provide extensive law enforcement careers, with Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati police departments hiring regularly. The state operates multiple correctional facilities and employs probation officers across 88 counties. Corporate employers like Honda, Nationwide Insurance, and Cleveland Clinic hire security specialists and loss prevention professionals. Federal opportunities include FBI field offices in Cleveland and Cincinnati, plus Border Patrol positions along Lake Erie.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.