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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice Studies (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

40 Ranked Colleges
1,797 Degrees Awarded
$12,200 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2019-2020, 46,252 people earned their degree in criminal justice studies, making the major the 16th most popular in the United States.

Across the Plains States region, there were 2,432 criminal justice studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,797 criminal justice studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,786 and $25,576 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 40 colleges that offered a degree in criminal justice studies. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent criminal justice studies programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the criminal justice studies program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Criminal Justice Studies Schools

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region bachelor’s degree criminal justice studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice Studies (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

#1

Truman State University

Kirksville, Missouri
#14 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Truman State University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Truman State is a small school located in Kirksville, Missouri that handed out 37 bachelors’s criminal justice studies degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree criminal justice studies students whose families make $0-$30k list, Truman State has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Truman State is $7,564 for plains states region bachelor’s degree criminal justice studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Criminal Justice Studies at Truman State

#2

Minot State University

Minot, North Dakota
#18 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Minot State University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Minot, North Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s criminal justice studies degrees to 41 students in 2019-2020.

MSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $8,923 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Criminal Justice Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend MSU.

Full MSU Criminal Justice Studies Report

#3

Winona State University

Winona, Minnesota
#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Winona State University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. This medium-sized school is located in Winona, Minnesota, and it awarded 68 bachelors’s criminal justice studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Winona State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Winona State University is $12,381 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Criminal Justice Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Criminal Justice Studies at Winona State

#4

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota
#6 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Saint Cloud State University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. This fairly large school is located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota, and it awarded 73 bachelors’s criminal justice studies degrees in 2019-2020.

St. Cloud State University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Saint Cloud State University is $10,688 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Criminal Justice Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Criminal Justice Studies at Saint Cloud State University

#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Minnesota State University - Mankato. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Minnesota State Mankato is located in Mankato, Minnesota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 bachelors’s criminal justice studies degrees to qualified students.

Minnesota State Mankato also took the #3 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Minnesota State Mankato is $11,057 for plains states region bachelor’s degree criminal justice studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Criminal Justice Studies at Minnesota State Mankato

#6

Bemidji State University

Bemidji, Minnesota
#15 in overall quality

Bemidji State University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Bemidji, Minnesota, and it awarded 63 bachelors’s criminal justice studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Bemidji State University also made our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #15. The estimated yearly cost for Bemidji State University is $10,632 for plains states region bachelor’s degree criminal justice studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Criminal Justice Studies at Bemidji State University

#13 in overall quality

University of Nebraska at Omaha ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Nebraska at Omaha is a fairly large public school situated in Omaha, Nebraska. It awarded 192 bachelors’s criminal justice studies degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNOMAHA, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UNOMAHA is $10,490 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Criminal Justice Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full University of Nebraska at Omaha Criminal Justice Studies Report

#5 in overall quality

North Dakota State University - Main Campus came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. North Dakota State University is a fairly large school located in Fargo, North Dakota that handed out 47 bachelors’s criminal justice studies degrees in 2019-2020.

North Dakota State University also took the #5 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $11,524 for plains states region bachelor’s degree criminal justice studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend North Dakota State University - Main Campus.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Criminal Justice Studies at North Dakota State University

#9

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota
#4 in overall quality

University of North Dakota did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. Located in Grand Forks, North Dakota, this fairly large public school handed out 65 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s criminal justice studies students in 2019-2020.

UND not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $11,092 for plains states region bachelor’s degree criminal justice studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of North Dakota.

The low student loan default rate of 2.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Criminal Justice Studies at University of North Dakota

#24 in overall quality

Fort Hays State University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. FHSU is a fairly large public school situated in Hays, Kansas. It awarded 51 bachelors’s criminal justice studies degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at FHSU, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $9,464 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Criminal Justice Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Fort Hays State University.

Read full report on Criminal Justice Studies at Fort Hays State University

#11

Wayne State College

Wayne, Nebraska

Wayne State College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #11. Located in Wayne, Nebraska, this small public school handed out 51 degrees to qualified bachelors’s criminal justice studies students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Wayne State College is $10,333 for plains states region bachelor’s degree criminal justice studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Criminal Justice Studies at WSC

#12

Missouri Western State University

Saint Joseph, Missouri

Missouri Western State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. Located in Saint Joseph, Missouri, this small public school awarded 44 degrees to qualified bachelors’s criminal justice studies students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Missouri Western State University is $8,762 for plains states region bachelor’s degree criminal justice studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Criminal Justice Studies at Missouri Western

#19 in overall quality

Minnesota State University - Moorhead ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Minnesota State University - Moorhead is a public institution located in Moorhead, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 32 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

MSU Moorhead also made our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #19. It costs about $12,484 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Criminal Justice Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend MSU Moorhead.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Criminal Justice Studies at MSU Moorhead

#14

Saint Louis University

Saint Louis, Missouri
#2 in overall quality

Saint Louis University landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. SLU is a fairly large school located in Saint Louis, Missouri that handed out 16 bachelors’s criminal justice studies degrees in 2019-2020.

SLU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $20,051 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Criminal Justice Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend SLU.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Saint Louis University Criminal Justice Studies Report

#15

Lindenwood University

Saint Charles, Missouri
#25 in overall quality

Lindenwood University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Lindenwood University is located in Saint Charles, Missouri and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 90 bachelors’s criminal justice studies degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree criminal justice studies students whose families make $0-$30k list, Lindenwood University has also earned the #25 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Lindenwood University is $14,388 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Criminal Justice Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Criminal Justice Studies at Lindenwood University

#16

Metropolitan State University

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#12 in overall quality

Metropolitan State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #16. Metro State is a public institution located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 83 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Metro State, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Metropolitan State University is $14,388 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Criminal Justice Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Metro State Criminal Justice Studies Report

#17

Wichita State University

Wichita, Kansas

With a ranking of #17, Wichita State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Wichita State University is located in Wichita, Kansas and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 84 bachelors’s criminal justice studies degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Wichita State University is $11,642 for plains states region bachelor’s degree criminal justice studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Criminal Justice Studies at Wichita State University

#18

Simpson College

Indianola, Iowa
#8 in overall quality

With a ranking of #18, Simpson College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Simpson College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Indianola, Iowa. It awarded 12 bachelors’s criminal justice studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Simpson College also took the #8 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Simpson College is $15,357 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Criminal Justice Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Criminal Justice Studies at Simpson College

#19

Pittsburg State University

Pittsburg, Kansas

Pittsburg State University landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Pittsburg State University is located in Pittsburg, Kansas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 14 bachelors’s criminal justice studies degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for Pittsburg State University is $10,638 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Criminal Justice Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Criminal Justice Studies at Pitt State

#20

Concordia University, Saint Paul

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#21 in overall quality

Concordia University, Saint Paul came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 22 degrees to qualified bachelors’s criminal justice studies students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Concordia University, Saint Paul, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Concordia University, Saint Paul is $13,423 for plains states region bachelor’s degree criminal justice studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Criminal Justice Studies at Concordia University, Saint Paul

#23 in overall quality

University of Nebraska at Kearney came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UNK is a medium-sized public school situated in Kearney, Nebraska. It awarded 26 bachelors’s criminal justice studies degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNK, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UNK is $13,078 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Criminal Justice Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 4.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Criminal Justice Studies at University of Nebraska at Kearney

#11 in overall quality

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. SMU MN is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Winona, Minnesota. It awarded 8 bachelors’s criminal justice studies degrees in 2019-2020.

SMU MN did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend SMU MN is $15,036 for plains states region bachelor’s degree criminal justice studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Criminal Justice Studies at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota

#23

Peru State College

Peru, Nebraska

Peru State College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Peru State is located in Peru, Nebraska and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 29 bachelors’s criminal justice studies degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $12,005 for plains states region bachelor’s degree criminal justice studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Peru State.

Read more about Criminal Justice Studies at Peru State

#24

University of South Dakota

Vermillion, South Dakota
#20 in overall quality

University of South Dakota did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #24. University of South Dakota is a medium-sized public school situated in Vermillion, South Dakota. It awarded 49 bachelors’s criminal justice studies degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree criminal justice studies students whose families make $0-$30k list, USD has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of South Dakota is $14,517 for plains states region bachelor’s degree criminal justice studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 4.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full University of South Dakota Criminal Justice Studies Report

#25

Buena Vista University

Storm Lake, Iowa

Buena Vista University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Buena Vista University is a small school located in Storm Lake, Iowa that handed out 18 bachelors’s criminal justice studies degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $14,210 for plains states region bachelor’s degree criminal justice studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend BVU.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Criminal Justice Studies at Buena Vista University

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Notes and References

References

  • 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 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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