2023 Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Veterans in the Plains States Region
12
Ranked Colleges
923
Degrees Awarded
$22,700
Avg Cost*
When it comes to choosing a college, veterans have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Most Veteran Friendly in the Plains States Region for Criminal Justice for a Bachelor’s” ranking as one item you can use to help make this 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. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 923 criminal justice graduates with average earnings and debt of $41,046 and $29,021 respectively.
This year’s “Most Veteran Friendly in the Plains States Region for Criminal Justice for a Bachelor’s” ranking analyzed 12 colleges that offered a degree in criminal justice. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great criminal justice programs and a strong support system for veterans and active service members.
To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as veteran satisfaction, veteran affordability, and overall quality of the criminal justice program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
More Ways to Rank Criminal Justice Schools
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Most Veteran Friendly in the Plains States Region for Criminal Justice for a Bachelor’s” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.
Most Veteran Friendly in the Plains States Region for Criminal Justice for a Bachelor’s
The following schools top our list of the Best “Most Veteran Friendly in the Plains States Region for Criminal Justice for a Bachelor’s”.
Top 12 Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Veterans in the Plains States Region
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Park University. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Plains States Region for Criminal Justice for a Bachelor’s list. Parkville, Missouri is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s criminal justice degrees to 145 students in 2020-2021.
Park University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list.According to our most recent data, Park University supports 10,165 students, and 5 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 8 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $2,501. On top of their other funding sources, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
Full Park University Veteran Student Life Report
Out of the 12 schools in the Most Veteran Friendly in the Plains States Region for Criminal Justice for a Bachelor’s that were part of this year’s ranking, Columbia College landed the #2 spot on the list. Columbia College Missouri is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Columbia, Missouri. It awarded 130 bachelors’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
Columbia College Missouri not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list.According to our most recent data, Columbia College supports 8,347 students, and 6 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 1 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $750. To help with additional expenses, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Columbia College offers credit for military training for eligible students.
[Read full report on veteran student life at Columbia College]](/colleges/columbia-college-missouri/student-life/veterans/)
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Central Missouri. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Plains States Region for Criminal Justice for a Bachelor’s list. UCM is a public institution located in Warrensburg, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 112 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree vets studying criminal justice list, UCM has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking.Of the 9,959 students enrolled at UCM, 9 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 10 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $4,238. During this same period, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. UCM offers credit for military training for eligible students.
[Read full report on veteran student life at UCM]](/colleges/university-of-central-missouri/student-life/veterans/)
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Missouri Southern State University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Plains States Region for Criminal Justice for a Bachelor’s list. Missouri Southern is a small public school situated in Joplin, Missouri. It awarded 72 bachelors’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Missouri Southern, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking.Our most recent data shows that 210 of the 5,045 students enrolled at Missouri Southern State University were GI Bill® students, of which 98 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $4,255. On top of their other funding sources, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
[Read full report on veteran student life at Missouri Southern State University]](/colleges/missouri-southern-state-university/student-life/veterans/)
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Washburn University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Plains States Region for Criminal Justice for a Bachelor’s list. Washburn University is located in Topeka, Kansas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 30 bachelors’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Washburn University, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking.Among the 5,880 students enrolled at Washburn University, 306 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 147 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $5,535. To help with additional expenses, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Washburn University does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
Full Washburn University Veteran Student Life Report
Central Methodist University - College of Liberal Arts & Sciences came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Veteran Friendly in the Plains States Region for Criminal Justice for a Bachelor’s ranking. Central Methodist University - College of Liberal Arts & Sciences is located in Fayette, Missouri and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 15 bachelors’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.
CMU CLAS did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list.According to our most recent data, Central Methodist University - College of Liberal Arts & Sciences supports 1,141 students, and 2 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 0 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $0. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
Full Central Methodist University - College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Veteran Student Life Report
Mount Mercy University landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Plains States Region for Criminal Justice for a Bachelor’s ranking. Mount Mercy is a private not-for-profit institution located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 18 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Mount Mercy also made our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #8.According to our most recent data, Mount Mercy University supports 1,705 students, and 58 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 33 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $7,227. On top of their other funding sources, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Mount Mercy University offers credit for military training for eligible students.
[Read full report on veteran student life at Mount Mercy University]](/colleges/mount-mercy-university/student-life/veterans/)
Culver - Stockton College did quite well in the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Plains States Region for Criminal Justice for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #8. This small school is located in Canton, Missouri, and it awarded 25 bachelors’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree vets studying criminal justice list, Culver - Stockton has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking.Our most recent data shows that 27 of the 1,006 students enrolled at Culver - Stockton were GI Bill® students, of which 14 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $17,492. In addition to receiving other benefits, 1 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
[Read full report on veteran student life at Culver - Stockton College]](/colleges/culver-stockton-college/student-life/veterans/)
Central Christian College of Kansas did quite well in the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Plains States Region for Criminal Justice for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #9. Central Christian College is a private not-for-profit institution located in McPherson, Kansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 39 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Central Christian College also made our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #4.Of the 629 students enrolled at Central Christian College, 49 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 33 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $7,232. During this same period, 2 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Central Christian College offers credit for military training for eligible students.
[Read full report on veteran student life at Central Christian College]](/colleges/central-christian-college-of-kansas/student-life/veterans/)
With a ranking of #10, Walden University did quite well on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Plains States Region for Criminal Justice for a Bachelor’s list. Walden University is a private for-profit institution located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The school has a large population, and it awarded 42 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree vets studying criminal justice list, Walden University has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking.Our most recent data shows that 2,721 of the 49,695 students enrolled at Walden University were GI Bill® students, of which 1,568 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $8,240. On top of their other funding sources, 3 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
[Read full report on veteran student life at Walden University]](/colleges/walden-university/student-life/veterans/)
Evangel University ranked #11 on this year’s Most Veteran Friendly in the Plains States Region for Criminal Justice for a Bachelor’s list. Springfield, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s criminal justice degrees to 8 students in 2020-2021.
Evangel also made our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #10.According to our most recent data, Evangel supports 1,999 students, and 76 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 45 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $9,862. On top of their other funding sources, 1 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Evangel University Veteran Student Life Report
With a ranking of #12, Hannibal - LaGrange University did quite well on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Plains States Region for Criminal Justice for a Bachelor’s list. Hannibal - LaGrange University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Hannibal, Missouri. It awarded 13 bachelors’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.
HLGU also took the #12 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking.Of the 739 students enrolled at HLGU, 28 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 14 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $11,541. On top of their other funding sources, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
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.
[Read full report on veteran student life at HLGU]](/colleges/hannibal-lagrange-college/student-life/veterans/)
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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).
- Veteran-specific data can be found at the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.
- 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
- *Avg Salary and Avg 4-Year Grad Rate are for the top schools only.
- **GI Bill® student total includes all chapters of the GI Bill® program (e.g., Post-9/11, Montgomery GI Bill, Reserve Education Assistance Program, and Veteran Readiness and Employment)
- 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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