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2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

11 Ranked Colleges
290 Degrees Awarded
$15,500 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master's in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.

In 2019-2020, 33,568 people earned their degree in criminal justice, making the major the 32nd most popular in the United States.

Across the Plains States region, there were 1,698 criminal justice graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 290 criminal justice graduates with average earnings and debt of $53,438 and $39,783 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 11 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in criminal justice. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality criminal justice programs that also have a lower cost than 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 program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The criminal justice school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k”.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

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

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 11 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

#1

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota
#5 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Saint Cloud State University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota, this fairly large public school handed out 4 diplomas to qualified masters’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

St. Cloud State University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Criminal Justice Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at St. Cloud State University are $12,904.

Full St. Cloud State University Criminal Justice Report

#2

Southeast Missouri State University

Cape Girardeau, Missouri
#9 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Southeast Missouri State University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, this fairly large public school awarded 4 diplomas to qualified masters’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Southeast Missouri State University, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Southeast Missouri State University are $10,792.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Southeast Missouri State University

#3

Concordia University, Saint Paul

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#6 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Concordia University, Saint Paul. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 21 degrees to qualified masters’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k list, Concordia University, Saint Paul has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Concordia University, Saint Paul are $8,550, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Concordia University, Saint Paul Criminal Justice Report

#4

University of Central Missouri

Warrensburg, Missouri
#8 in overall quality

Out of the 11 schools in the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Central Missouri landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Warrensburg, Missouri, this medium-sized public school awarded 14 diplomas to qualified masters’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

UCM also took the #8 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Central Missouri are $16,394.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at University of Central Missouri

#10 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Missouri - Kansas City. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Kansas City, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s criminal justice degrees to 8 students in 2019-2020.

UMKC also made our “Best Criminal Justice Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #10. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Missouri - Kansas City are $26,699, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at University of Missouri - Kansas City

#6

Washburn University

Topeka, Kansas
#12 in overall quality

Washburn University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Topeka, Kansas, this medium-sized public school handed out 4 degrees to qualified masters’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

Washburn University also took the #12 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Washburn University are $19,206, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Washburn University Criminal Justice Report

#7

Bellevue University

Bellevue, Nebraska
#2 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, Bellevue University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Bellevue, Nebraska, and it awarded 27 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Bellevue University also took the #2 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Bellevue University are $11,385, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Bellevue University

#8

Mount Mercy University

Cedar Rapids, Iowa
#7 in overall quality

Mount Mercy University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #8. Mount Mercy University is located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 20 masters’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

Mount Mercy not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Criminal Justice Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Mount Mercy are $10,870, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Mount Mercy University

#9

Saint Ambrose University

Davenport, Iowa
#4 in overall quality

Saint Ambrose University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Davenport, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 4 degrees to qualified masters’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

St. Ambrose University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Criminal Justice Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Saint Ambrose University are $18,150, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full St. Ambrose University Criminal Justice Report

#10

University of St Thomas Minnesota

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#1 in overall quality

University of St Thomas Minnesota ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of St Thomas Minnesota is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 masters’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

UST MN also made our “Best Criminal Justice Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #1. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of St Thomas Minnesota are $24,814.

Full University of St Thomas Minnesota Criminal Justice Report

#11

Columbia College

Columbia, Missouri
#11 in overall quality

Columbia College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Columbia, Missouri, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 25 degrees to qualified masters’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Columbia College Missouri, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Columbia College Missouri are $8,584, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Columbia College Missouri

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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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