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2022 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice & Corrections (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region

39 Ranked Colleges
1,343 Degrees Awarded
$8,600 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate 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. 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 for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2019-2020, 113,581 criminal justice and corrections students received their degree, making the major the 6th most popular in the country. In 2017-2018, criminal justice and corrections graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $31,952 and had an average of $24,936 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Plains States region, there were 6,120 criminal justice and corrections graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,044 and $27,500 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 1,343 criminal justice and corrections graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,069 and $19,434 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 39 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in criminal justice and corrections. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great criminal justice and corrections programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the criminal justice and corrections program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. 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 an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. 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.

Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region associate degree criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice & Corrections (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Metropolitan Community College. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. MCC is located in Omaha, Nebraska and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 56 associates’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

MCC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $2,963 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Criminal Justice students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend MCC.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Metropolitan Community College

#2

North Hennepin Community College

Brooklyn Park, Minnesota

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend North Hennepin Community College. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. North Hennepin Community College is a public institution located in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 63 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

North Hennepin Community College also took the #2 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend North Hennepin Community College is $9,195 for plains states region associate degree criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full North Hennepin Community College Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

Out of the 39 schools in the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Southeast Community College Area landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Lincoln, Nebraska, this medium-sized public school handed out 23 diplomas to qualified associates’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Southeast Community College, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Southeast Community College Area is $7,573 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Criminal Justice students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Southeast Community College Area Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#4

Century College

White Bear Lake, Minnesota

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Century College. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Century College is located in White Bear Lake, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 75 associates’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

Century College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $9,441 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Criminal Justice students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Century College.

Full Century College Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Alexandria Technical & Community College. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Alexandria, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s criminal justice degrees to 76 students in 2019-2020.

ATCC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $10,859 for plains states region associate degree criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend ATCC.

Full ATCC Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

With a ranking of #6, Western Iowa Tech Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Western Iowa Tech Community College is located in Sioux City, Iowa and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 17 associates’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

Western Iowa Tech Community College also took the #15 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Western Iowa Tech Community College is $5,287 for plains states region associate degree criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Western Iowa Tech Community College Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#7

Northeast Community College

Norfolk, Nebraska

Northeast Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #7. Northeast Community College is located in Norfolk, Nebraska and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 33 associates’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our plains states region associate degree criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k list, Northeast has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Northeast Community College is $6,473 for plains states region associate degree criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Northeast Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#8

Jefferson College

Hillsboro, Missouri

Jefferson College landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. JeffCo is located in Hillsboro, Missouri and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 25 associates’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

JeffCo did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend JeffCo is $7,056 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Criminal Justice students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Jefferson College Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

Des Moines Area Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #9. Located in Ankeny, Iowa, this large public school handed out 36 degrees to qualified associates’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at DMACC, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $8,543 for plains states region associate degree criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Des Moines Area Community College.

Full DMACC Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#10

Normandale Community College

Bloomington, Minnesota

Normandale Community College landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Bloomington, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s criminal justice degrees to 36 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Normandale Community College, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $11,248 for plains states region associate degree criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Normandale Community College.

Full Normandale Community College Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#11

Inver Hills Community College

Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota

Inver Hills Community College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. IHCC is located in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 40 associates’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

IHCC also took the #6 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Inver Hills Community College is $10,156 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Criminal Justice students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Inver Hills Community College

#12

Lake Region State College

Devils Lake, North Dakota

Lake Region State College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Lake Region State College is a small school located in Devils Lake, North Dakota that handed out 6 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Lake Region State College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Lake Region State College is $7,719 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Criminal Justice students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Lake Region State College Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

Missouri Southern State University landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Missouri Southern State University is located in Joplin, Missouri and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 77 associates’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

Missouri Southern also made our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #24. It costs about $8,416 for plains states region associate degree criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Missouri Southern.

Full Missouri Southern State University Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#14

Saint Louis Community College

Saint Louis, Missouri

Saint Louis Community College landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, this fairly large public school awarded 27 degrees to qualified associates’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Saint Louis Community College is $7,013 for plains states region associate degree criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Saint Louis Community College Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

Iowa Central Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #15. Iowa Central Community College is a small school located in Fort Dodge, Iowa that handed out 21 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Iowa Central Community College is $8,734 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Criminal Justice students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Iowa Central Community College

#16

Hibbing Community College

Hibbing, Minnesota

With a ranking of #16, Hibbing Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Hibbing, Minnesota, this small public school handed out 12 degrees to qualified associates’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $8,404 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Criminal Justice students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Hibbing Community College.

Full Hibbing Community College Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. MCC is located in Kansas City, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 associates’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend MCC is $6,519 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Criminal Justice students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at MCC

#18

Lake Area Technical Institute

Watertown, South Dakota

With a ranking of #18, Lake Area Technical Institute did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. LATI is located in Watertown, South Dakota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 12 associates’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

LATI did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend LATI is $10,862 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Criminal Justice students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full LATI Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#22 in overall quality

Central Christian College of Kansas landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. McPherson, Kansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out associates’s criminal justice degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Central Christian College, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Central Christian College of Kansas is $11,105 for plains states region associate degree criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Central Christian College

Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #20. Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College is a small school located in Cloquet, Minnesota that handed out 24 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College is $9,541 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Criminal Justice students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

Indian Hills Community College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. IHCC is a small school located in Ottumwa, Iowa that handed out 11 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend IHCC is $5,646 for plains states region associate degree criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Indian Hills Community College

#22

Hawkeye Community College

Waterloo, Iowa

With a ranking of #22, Hawkeye Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Hawkeye Community College is located in Waterloo, Iowa and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 22 associates’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Hawkeye Community College, the school also landed the #25 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Hawkeye Community College is $9,083 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Criminal Justice students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Hawkeye Community College

#23

Central Lakes College - Brainerd

Brainerd, Minnesota

Central Lakes College - Brainerd did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #23. Central Lakes College - Brainerd is a public institution located in Brainerd, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 13 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region associate degree criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k list, Central Lakes College has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Central Lakes College - Brainerd is $10,720 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Criminal Justice students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Central Lakes College

#24

Mineral Area College

Park Hills, Missouri

With a ranking of #24, Mineral Area College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Mineral Area College is a small school located in Park Hills, Missouri that handed out 19 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Mineral Area College is $9,286 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Criminal Justice students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Mineral Area College

Rochester Community and Technical College landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Rochester Community and Technical College is a medium-sized public school situated in Rochester, Minnesota. It awarded 32 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Rochester Community and Technical College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Rochester Community and Technical College is $12,236 for plains states region associate degree criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Rochester Community and Technical College

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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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