2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k
19
Ranked Colleges
1,617
Degrees Awarded
$17,100
Avg Net Price*
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.
In 2020-2021, 32,891 people earned their degree in criminal justice, making the major the 27th most popular in the United States.
Across the Plains States region, there were 1,617 criminal justice graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 19 colleges that offered a degree in criminal justice. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent criminal justice programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the criminal justice program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.
Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k
The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
Top 19 Best Value Colleges for Criminal Justice (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region
Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Missouri Southern State University landed the #1 spot on the list. Missouri Southern is located in Joplin, Missouri and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 106 ’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Missouri Southern, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $7,881 for plains states region criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Missouri Southern.
Read more about Criminal Justice at Missouri Southern
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Central Missouri. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. University of Central Missouri is a public institution located in Warrensburg, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 128 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k list, UCM has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Central Missouri is $11,006 for plains states region criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full University of Central Missouri Criminal Justice Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Park University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Parkville, Missouri is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s criminal justice degrees to 179 students in 2020-2021.
Park University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Park University is $13,020 for Plains States Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Criminal Justice at Park University
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Washburn University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Washburn University is a public institution located in Topeka, Kansas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 41 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Washburn University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Washburn University is $11,258 for plains states region criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Washburn University Criminal Justice Report
Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Bellevue University landed the #5 spot on the list. Bellevue, Nebraska is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s criminal justice degrees to 16 students in 2020-2021.
Bellevue University also took the #3 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Bellevue University is $17,383 for Plains States Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% 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 Bellevue University Criminal Justice Report
University of Missouri - Kansas City did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. University of Missouri - Kansas City is located in Kansas City, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 8 ’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMKC, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $12,724 for Plains States Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Missouri - Kansas City.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Criminal Justice at UMKC
Concordia University, Saint Paul came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Concordia University, Saint Paul is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 27 ’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.
Concordia University, Saint Paul did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Concordia University, Saint Paul is $14,421 for Plains States Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Criminal Justice at Concordia University, Saint Paul
Mount Mercy University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Mount Mercy University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It awarded 39 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
Mount Mercy also took the #12 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $19,250 for Plains States Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Mount Mercy.
Read full report on Criminal Justice at Mount Mercy
Central Christian College of Kansas came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in McPherson, Kansas, and it awarded 41 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Central Christian College, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $15,148 for Plains States Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Central Christian College.
Full Central Christian College Criminal Justice Report
With a ranking of #10, Waldorf University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Forest City, Iowa, this small private for-profit school handed out 7 diplomas to qualified ’s criminal justice students in 2020-2021.
Waldorf also made our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #4. The yearly cost to attend Waldorf is $19,729 for plains states region criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Criminal Justice at Waldorf
With a ranking of #11, Grantham University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Lenexa, Kansas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out ’s criminal justice degrees to 177 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k list, Grantham University has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $8,843 for Plains States Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Grantham University.
Full Grantham University Criminal Justice Report
Culver - Stockton College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Culver - Stockton College is located in Canton, Missouri and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 25 ’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.
Culver - Stockton also made our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #14. It costs about $16,908 for plains states region criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Culver - Stockton College.
Read more about Criminal Justice at Culver - Stockton College
With a ranking of #13, Central Methodist University - College of Liberal Arts & Sciences did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Central Methodist University - College of Liberal Arts & Sciences is a small school located in Fayette, Missouri that handed out 15 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
CMU CLAS also took the #16 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Central Methodist University - College of Liberal Arts & Sciences is $23,048 for Plains States Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Criminal Justice at Central Methodist University - College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
University of St Thomas Minnesota came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Saint Paul, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s criminal justice degrees to 10 students in 2020-2021.
UST MN also made our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #1. The estimated yearly cost for University of St Thomas Minnesota is $32,436 for plains states region criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full University of St Thomas Minnesota Criminal Justice Report
Evangel University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Evangel University is a small school located in Springfield, Missouri that handed out 8 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Evangel, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $24,310 for plains states region criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Evangel.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Criminal Justice at Evangel University
Hannibal - LaGrange University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Hannibal - LaGrange University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Hannibal, Missouri. It awarded 13 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at HLGU, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Hannibal - LaGrange University is $22,384 for Plains States Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read more about Criminal Justice at HLGU
Columbia College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Columbia, Missouri, and it awarded 187 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Columbia College Missouri, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Columbia College is $30,061 for plains states region criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Columbia College Missouri Criminal Justice Report
Drury University - College of Continuing Professional Studies did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #18. Located in Springfield, Missouri, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 125 diplomas to qualified ’s criminal justice students in 2020-2021.
Drury University - CCPS did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Drury University - College of Continuing Professional Studies is $13,901 for plains states region criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Drury University - College of Continuing Professional Studies Criminal Justice Report
Central Methodist University - College of Graduate & Extended Studies did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #19. This small school is located in Fayette, Missouri, and it awarded 15 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k list, CMU CGES has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $10,456 for plains states region criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend CMU CGES.
Read more about Criminal Justice at Central Methodist University - College of Graduate & Extended Studies
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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
- *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.
