Cheapest Criminology Colleges in Ohio

Wright State University-Lake Campus stands out among Ohio's criminology programs with a net cost of just $12,603, nearly $11,000 less than the next most affordable option at University of Akron. This dramatic price gap reflects the varied market of criminal justice education across Ohio, where 14 programs range from $12,603 to $23,585 annually. Ohio State University graduates command the highest earnings at $37,808, benefiting from the state's solid law enforcement infrastructure that includes major agencies like the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and municipal departments serving cities from Cleveland to Cincinnati. The state's central location and varied crime patterns provide criminology students with varied fieldwork opportunities.

Programs

$12,603 – $23,585

Net Price Range

$34,163

Avg. Program Earnings

53.8%

Avg. Graduation Rate

14 Criminology Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	Wright State University-Lake Campus Celina, Ohio	$12,603	$7,504	42.5%	99.9%
2	University of Akron Main Campus Akron, Ohio	$14,981	$12,799	48.2%	82.9%
3	Wright State University-Main Campus Dayton, Ohio	$15,216	$11,188	45.9%	95.2%
4	Cleveland State University Cleveland, Ohio	$16,065	$12,613	48.9%	85.3%
5	Mount St. Joseph University Cincinnati, Ohio	$16,135	$36,650	54.7%	54.4%
6	Ohio State University-Mansfield Campus Mansfield, Ohio	$16,512	$9,212	14.1%
7	Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, Ohio	$18,292	$12,859	87.7%	52.7%
8	Wittenberg University Springfield, Ohio	$19,470	$44,602	53.8%	93.9%
9	Ohio Dominican University Columbus, Ohio	$19,476	$34,370	47.9%	52.4%
10	Hiram College Hiram, Ohio	$20,088	$26,265	59.1%	93.1%
11	Ohio University-Main Campus Athens, Ohio	$20,413	$13,746	66.4%	86.5%
12	Heidelberg University Tiffin, Ohio	$21,662	$33,628	49.8%	71.4%
13	Otterbein University Westerville, Ohio	$22,140	$34,899	68.9%	83.7%
14	Capital University Columbus, Ohio	$23,585	$41,788	65.5%	72.2%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Wright State University-Lake Campus so much cheaper than other criminology programs?

Wright State-Lake Campus offers a net cost of $12,603 compared to $14,981 at University of Akron, the next cheapest option. As a regional campus with a 99.85% acceptance rate, it provides accessible criminal justice education with lower overhead costs than main campuses.

How do graduation rates compare between public and private criminology programs in Ohio?

Private institutions generally show higher completion rates, with Otterbein University leading at 68.90% and Hiram College at 59.10%. Public universities range more widely, from Ohio State-Main Campus at 87.70% down to Ohio State-Mansfield at 14.10%.

Do Ohio State graduates really earn $5,000 more than other criminology majors?

Ohio State criminology graduates average $37,808 annually, significantly above the $32,284-$34,206 range at other tracked programs. This premium likely reflects the university's strong alumni network and connections to state law enforcement agencies.

Where can criminology students find the lowest student debt loads?

Ohio University leads with just $15,792 in average debt, followed by Ohio State campuses at $19,500. University of Akron offers another low-debt option at $20,500, making public universities generally more affordable for borrowing students.

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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.