2023 Best Value Colleges for Criminal Justice (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region
19
Ranked Colleges
1,617
Degrees Awarded
$16,500
Avg Net Price*
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is part of that endeavor.
Criminal Justice is the 27th most popular major in the country with 32,891 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.
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 $30-$48k” ranking looked at 19 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.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the criminal justice program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
More Ways to Rank Criminal Justice Schools
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 in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k”.
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. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.
Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k
The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k.
Top 19 Best Value Colleges for Criminal Justice (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Missouri Southern State University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Located in Joplin, Missouri, this small public school awarded 106 degrees to qualified ’s criminal justice students in 2020-2021.
Missouri Southern also made our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for Missouri Southern State University is $7,731 for plains states region criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full Missouri Southern Criminal Justice Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Central Christian College of Kansas. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Located in McPherson, Kansas, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 41 diplomas to qualified ’s criminal justice students in 2020-2021.
Central Christian College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Central Christian College is $9,290 for Plains States Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Criminal Justice at Central Christian College
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Central Missouri. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. University of Central Missouri is a fairly large public school situated in Warrensburg, Missouri. It awarded 128 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
UCM also made our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #6. It costs about $12,120 for Plains States Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Central Missouri.
Full UCM Criminal Justice Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Bellevue University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. 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.
In addition to being on our plains states region criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k list, Bellevue University has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Bellevue University is $17,911 for plains states region criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Bellevue University Criminal Justice Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Park University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Park University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Parkville, Missouri. It awarded 179 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Park University, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Park University is $14,285 for Plains States Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Criminal Justice at Park University
With a ranking of #6, Washburn University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This medium-sized school is located in Topeka, Kansas, and it awarded 41 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
Washburn University also took the #10 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Washburn University is $12,574 for Plains States Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full Washburn University Criminal Justice Report
With a ranking of #7, University of Missouri - Kansas City did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This fairly large school is located in Kansas City, Missouri, and it awarded 8 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
UMKC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UMKC is $13,751 for plains states region criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad 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 at University of Missouri - Kansas City
Concordia University, Saint Paul came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k 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 27 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k list, Concordia University, Saint Paul has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Concordia University, Saint Paul is $13,031 for Plains States Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.5% 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 more about Criminal Justice at Concordia University, Saint Paul
Waldorf University landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Forest City, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out ’s criminal justice degrees to 7 students in 2020-2021.
Waldorf did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Waldorf is $18,472 for Plains States Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Criminal Justice at Waldorf University
Mount Mercy University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #10. Cedar Rapids, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s criminal justice degrees to 39 students in 2020-2021.
Mount Mercy not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Mount Mercy University is $17,384 for plains states region criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Criminal Justice at Mount Mercy University
Grantham University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #11. Grantham University is located in Lenexa, Kansas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 177 ’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our plains states region criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k list, Grantham University has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $9,979 for Plains States Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Grantham University.
Read full report on Criminal Justice at Grantham University
Central Methodist University - College of Liberal Arts & Sciences landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. CMU CLAS is a small school located in Fayette, Missouri that handed out 15 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at CMU CLAS, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $21,087 for Plains States Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Central Methodist University - College of Liberal Arts & Sciences.
Read full report on Criminal Justice at CMU CLAS
Culver - Stockton College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #13. This small school is located in Canton, Missouri, and it awarded 25 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Culver - Stockton, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $19,992 for Plains States Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Culver - Stockton.
Full Culver - Stockton College Criminal Justice Report
University of St Thomas Minnesota ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools 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 2020-2021, this school awarded 10 ’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UST MN, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of St Thomas Minnesota is $27,782 for plains states region criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. 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%.
Read full report on Criminal Justice at UST MN
Evangel University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Evangel University is located in Springfield, Missouri and, has a small 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 Evangel, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Evangel is $23,931 for Plains States Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.7% 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 at Evangel
Columbia College landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Columbia College is a medium-sized school located in Columbia, Missouri that handed out 187 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
Columbia College Missouri also took the #8 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Columbia College Missouri is $23,958 for Plains States Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read full report on Criminal Justice at Columbia College Missouri
With a ranking of #17, Hannibal - LaGrange University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Hannibal, Missouri, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 13 degrees to qualified ’s criminal justice students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k list, HLGU has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $19,995 for Plains States Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Hannibal - LaGrange University.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Full Hannibal - LaGrange University Criminal Justice Report
Drury University - College of Continuing Professional Studies landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Springfield, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s criminal justice degrees to 125 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k list, Drury University - CCPS has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Drury University - College of Continuing Professional Studies is $13,961 for Plains States Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Criminal Justice at Drury University - CCPS
Central Methodist University - College of Graduate & Extended Studies landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Fayette, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s criminal justice degrees to 15 students in 2020-2021.
CMU CGES not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region” list.
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.
