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Best Colleges for Criminal Justice in Ohio

The best colleges for a Criminal Justice degree in Ohio, led by University of Dayton, University of Cincinnati-Main Campus and Xavier University. Each school is shown with its acceptance rate, tuition, and average SAT so you can weigh Criminal Justice programs side by side.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best college for Criminal Justice in Ohio?

Based on our rankings, University of Dayton is the top-ranked college for Criminal Justice in Ohio. Other top choices include University of Cincinnati-Main Campus, Xavier University, University of Akron Main Campus.

What are the best Criminal Justice schools?

The best Criminal Justice schools, based on program-specific federal data including median earnings and graduate counts, are University of Dayton, University of Cincinnati-Main Campus, Xavier University. Our rankings use College Scorecard field-of-study data rather than editorial opinion.

How much does it cost to study Criminal Justice?

The average out-of-state tuition among top Criminal Justice programs is approximately $32,234 per year. However, costs vary significantly — many schools offer generous financial aid packages that can reduce the effective cost.

How long does it take to get a Criminal Justice degree?

A bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice typically takes four years of full-time study. Some programs offer accelerated tracks or combined bachelor's-to-master's options that can extend or shorten the timeline.

How are these Criminal Justice rankings determined?

Our major rankings are independently calculated from U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study (CIP) data — primarily median earnings 4 years after graduation and program scale (graduate count), with a 10+ annual graduates minimum per program. They are not derived from US News or any other publication.

Career outcomes for Criminal Justice graduates

Among the top 10 ranked Criminal Justice programs, the average early-career salary is approximately $57,979 per year. Below are the highest-paying Criminal Justice programs based on federal College Scorecard earnings data reported by graduates four years after completion.

  1. 1. University of Dayton — Dayton, OH · 65.5% acceptance · SAT 1,335 · $49,140 tuition · 80% grad rate
  2. 2. University of Cincinnati-Main Campus — Cincinnati, OH · 85.3% acceptance · SAT 1,282 · $29,310 tuition · 75% grad rate
  3. 3. Xavier University — Cincinnati, OH · 86.4% acceptance · SAT 1,217 · $50,640 tuition · 69% grad rate
  4. 4. University of Akron Main Campus — Akron, OH · 59.7% acceptance · SAT 1,081 · $20,815 tuition · 52% grad rate
  5. 5. Ohio Northern University — Ada, OH · 74.4% acceptance · SAT 1,252 · $39,800 tuition · 75% grad rate
  6. 6. Baldwin Wallace University — Berea, OH · 75.7% acceptance · SAT 1,194 · $39,832 tuition · 67% grad rate
  7. 7. Bowling Green State University-Main Campus — Bowling Green, OH · 81% acceptance · SAT 1,117 · $22,448 tuition · 64% grad rate
  8. 8. Franciscan University of Steubenville — Steubenville, OH · 58.4% acceptance · SAT 1,220 · $34,100 tuition · 75% grad rate
  9. 9. Cedarville University — Cedarville, OH · 65.3% acceptance · SAT 1,241 · $37,150 tuition · 73% grad rate
  10. 10. Bluffton University — Bluffton, OH · 67.2% acceptance · SAT 976 · $37,362 tuition · 53% grad rate
  11. 11. Malone University — Canton, OH · 75.9% acceptance · SAT 1,081 · $37,160 tuition · 45% grad rate
  12. 12. Youngstown State University — Youngstown, OH · 84.5% acceptance · SAT 1,120 · $11,473 tuition · 50% grad rate
  13. 13. Central State University — Wilberforce, OH · 98.6% acceptance · $10,058 tuition · 23% grad rate
  14. 14. Lake Erie College — Painesville, OH · 70.4% acceptance · $37,634 tuition · 38% grad rate
  15. 15. Defiance College — Defiance, OH · 47.6% acceptance · $29,320 tuition · 31% grad rate
  16. 16. Lourdes University — Sylvania, OH · 74.1% acceptance · $29,500 tuition · 32% grad rate

Best Colleges for Criminal Justice in Ohio on PickACampus