Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Michigan (2026)
Updated
This page ranks the 15 colleges in Michigan that report a Criminal Justice earnings cohort, ordered by the median earnings of Criminal Justice graduates four years after completing. Siena Heights University leads the list at $72,791, and across the 14 schools with a reported completion median, earnings range from $72,791 to $50,913, with a median of $57,606.
Public institutions account for 10 of the 15 schools, or 67%. Michigan State University ranks 69th on Azimuth's composite ranking among the 1,467 public and private nonprofit four-year institutions Azimuth ranks nationally. University of Michigan-Flint posts the lowest average net price, at $7,007.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Median Criminal Justice Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Siena Heights University · Adrian, MI | $72,791 | $17,124 | $15,624 | 68.9% |
| Siena Heights University, a private nonprofit university in Adrian, reports $72,791 in median earnings of Criminal Justice graduates four years after completing and ranks 1st on this list. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Criminal Justice and Corrections (62 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Criminal Justice and Corrections ($72,791) | |||||
| 2 | Michigan State University · East Lansing, MI | $62,715 | $19,680 | $7,068 | 84.8% |
| Michigan State University posts a six-year completion rate of 81% alongside median earnings of $62,715 for its Criminal Justice graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Criminal Justice and Corrections (202 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Criminal Justice and Corrections ($62,715) | |||||
| 3 | Oakland University · Rochester Hills, MI | $60,686 | $9,120 | $4,422 | 87.8% |
| With an average net price of $9,120, Oakland University ranks 3rd on this page and reports $60,686 in median earnings of Criminal Justice graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Criminal Justice and Corrections (77 graduates), Homeland Security (16 graduates), Security Science and Technology (7 graduates) | |||||
| 4 | Ferris State University · Big Rapids, MI | $60,325 | $8,624 | $2,556 | 91.4% |
| Ferris State University admits 91% of applicants and lists median earnings of $60,325 for its Criminal Justice graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Criminal Justice and Corrections (249 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Criminal Justice and Corrections ($60,325) | |||||
| 5 | Northern Michigan University · Marquette, MI | $59,390 | $14,085 | $7,697 | 84.0% |
| Northern Michigan University reports $59,390 in median earnings of Criminal Justice graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $7,697 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Criminal Justice and Corrections (55 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Criminal Justice and Corrections ($59,390) | |||||
| 6 | Saginaw Valley State University · University Center, MI | $59,042 | $10,775 | $9,844 | 72.1% |
| Saginaw Valley State University ranks 6th on this list with median earnings of $59,042 four years after completing and a six-year completion rate of 48%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Criminal Justice and Corrections (61 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Criminal Justice and Corrections ($59,042) | |||||
| 7 | Baker College · Owosso, MI | $57,675 | $13,157 | $11,976 | 81.9% |
| Baker College, a private nonprofit institution in Owosso, reports $57,675 in median earnings of Criminal Justice graduates four years after completing and an admission rate of 82%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Criminal Justice and Corrections (28 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Criminal Justice and Corrections ($57,675) | |||||
| 8 | Grand Valley State University · Allendale, MI | $57,537 | $16,317 | $12,272 | 83.0% |
| Grand Valley State University lists an average net price of $16,317 and median earnings of $57,537 for its Criminal Justice graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Criminal Justice and Corrections (153 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Criminal Justice and Corrections ($57,537) | |||||
| 9 | Western Michigan University · Kalamazoo, MI | $57,012 | $15,273 | $5,263 | 84.6% |
| Western Michigan University reports $57,012 in median earnings of Criminal Justice graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $5,263 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Criminal Justice and Corrections (119 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Criminal Justice and Corrections ($57,012) | |||||
| 10 | Wayne State University · Detroit, MI | $56,423 | $12,766 | $11,090 | 81.2% |
| Wayne State University ranks 80th on Azimuth's composite ranking among the 1,467 public and private nonprofit four-year institutions Azimuth ranks nationally and reports median earnings of $56,423 for its Criminal Justice graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Criminal Justice and Corrections (111 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Criminal Justice and Corrections ($56,423) | |||||
| 11 | The University of Olivet · Olivet, MI | $56,379 | $21,393 | $19,656 | 83.3% |
| The University of Olivet lists an average net price of $21,393 and a six-year completion rate of 35% for its Criminal Justice program. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Criminal Justice and Corrections (33 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Criminal Justice and Corrections ($56,379) | |||||
| 12 | Lake Superior State University · Sault Ste Marie, MI | $55,317 | $12,822 | $3,516 | Not reported |
| Lake Superior State University reports an average net price of $3,516 for families earning under $30,000 and a six-year completion rate of 51%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Criminal Justice and Corrections (38 graduates), Fire Protection (14 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Criminal Justice and Corrections ($58,286) | |||||
| 13 | Adrian College · Adrian, MI | $54,077 | $25,368 | $19,542 | 72.5% |
| Adrian College, a private nonprofit university in Adrian, reports $54,077 in median earnings for its Criminal Justice graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $25,368. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Criminal Justice and Corrections (33 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Criminal Justice and Corrections ($54,077) | |||||
| 14 | University of Michigan-Flint · Flint, MI | $52,490 | $7,007 | $1,517 | 70.5% |
| University of Michigan-Flint admits 70% of applicants and carries an average net price of $7,007, the lowest on this list. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Criminal Justice and Corrections (16 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Criminal Justice and Corrections ($52,490) | |||||
| 15 | Madonna University · Livonia, MI | $50,913 | $17,755 | $14,759 | 63.4% |
| Madonna University posts a six-year completion rate of 60% and an average net price of $14,759 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Criminal Justice and Corrections (52 graduates), Security Science and Technology (11 graduates), Homeland Security (5 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Criminal Justice and Corrections ($50,913) | |||||
How this list is ordered
Schools are ordered by the median earnings of their Criminal Justice graduates four years after completing, highest first. The figure captures federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled four years after finishing the program. It does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost of attendance, or the characteristics of the students who enroll, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The figures cited on this page cover the 14 schools with a reported completion median. Siena Heights University leads the list at $72,791, a gap of $10,076 above second-place Michigan State University.
Job market context in Michigan
Criminal Justice in Michigan links to occupations such as Security Guards, Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers, and Firefighters. The median annual wage across those occupations is $61,822, and a quarter of workers in those occupations earn less than $51,741. Projections for 2024 to 2034 put employment in those occupations about 0.1% higher, with 11,270 projected openings a year, or about 817 openings a year for every hundred graduates, more projected openings than graduates. Wages and top occupations exclude management occupations; openings include them. The ranking above uses graduate earnings four years after completing, not the broader occupational wage figures shown here.
Related rankings
- Criminal Justice Colleges
- Best Colleges in Michigan
- Best Criminal Justice Colleges in New York
- Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Texas
- Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Florida
- Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Georgia
- Criminal Justice Colleges in Michigan for Social Mobility