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2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k

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 $30-$48k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. 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 for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

Criminal Justice is the 32nd most popular major in the country with 33,568 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

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.

For this year’s “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 11 colleges that offer 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.

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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools 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 for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k

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 $30-$48k.

Top 11 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice (Income $30-$48k) 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 $30-$48k list. This fairly large school is located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota, and it awarded 4 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k list, St. Cloud State University has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Saint Cloud State University are $12,904, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at St. Cloud State University

#2

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 #2 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Concordia University, Saint Paul is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 21 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Concordia University, Saint Paul also made our “Best Criminal Justice Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #6. Average graduate tuition and fees at Concordia University, Saint Paul are $8,550, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Concordia University, Saint Paul Criminal Justice Report

#3

Southeast Missouri State University

Cape Girardeau, Missouri
#9 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southeast Missouri State University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This fairly large school is located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and it awarded 4 masters’s criminal justice degrees 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 full report on Criminal Justice at Southeast Missouri State University

#4

University of Central Missouri

Warrensburg, Missouri
#8 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Central Missouri. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. University of Central Missouri is a medium-sized public school situated in Warrensburg, Missouri. It awarded 14 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCM, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Central Missouri are $16,394, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at University of Central Missouri

#10 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Missouri - Kansas City. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Located in Kansas City, Missouri, this fairly large public school handed out 8 diplomas to qualified masters’s criminal justice 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 more about Criminal Justice at University of Missouri - Kansas City

#6

Washburn University

Topeka, Kansas
#12 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, Washburn University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Washburn University is located in Topeka, Kansas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 masters’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Washburn University, the school also landed the #12 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 Washburn University are $19,206.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Washburn University

#7

Bellevue University

Bellevue, Nebraska
#2 in overall quality

Bellevue University landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Bellevue University is located in Bellevue, Nebraska and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 27 masters’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Bellevue University, the school also landed the #2 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 Bellevue University are $11,385.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Bellevue University

#8

Mount Mercy University

Cedar Rapids, Iowa
#7 in overall quality

Mount Mercy University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Mount Mercy University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 20 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Mount Mercy also made our “Best Criminal Justice Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #7. Average graduate tuition and fees at Mount Mercy University are $10,870, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Mount Mercy Criminal Justice Report

#9

University of St Thomas Minnesota

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#1 in overall quality

University of St Thomas Minnesota ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k 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.

In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k list, UST MN has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UST MN are $24,814, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UST MN Criminal Justice Report

#10

Saint Ambrose University

Davenport, Iowa
#4 in overall quality

Saint Ambrose University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Saint Ambrose University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Davenport, Iowa. It awarded 4 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

St. Ambrose University also took the #4 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at St. Ambrose University are $18,150, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Criminal Justice at St. Ambrose University

#11

Columbia College

Columbia, Missouri
#11 in overall quality

Columbia College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Columbia, Missouri is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s criminal justice degrees to 25 students in 2019-2020.

Columbia College Missouri also took 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 are $8,584, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on 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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