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2023 Best Value Colleges for Criminal Justice & Corrections (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region

83 Ranked Colleges
6,080 Degrees Awarded
$9,900 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Criminal Justice Schools 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 in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Criminal Justice & Corrections is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 7th of all the majors we analyze. In 2020-2021, 113,121 degrees were awarded to students with this major. In 2019-2020, criminal justice and corrections graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $35,465 and had an average of $25,425 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Plains States region, there were 6,080 criminal justice and corrections graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,141 and $29,816 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 83 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in criminal justice and corrections. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent criminal justice and corrections 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 and corrections program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” list to help you make the college decision.

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. 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 $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k.

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

1
Century College crest
Century College
White Bear Lake, Minnesota

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Century College. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Century College is a medium-sized public school situated in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. It awarded 99 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k list, Century College has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Century College is $8,628 for plains states region criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Century College

2

Out of the 83 schools in the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Metropolitan Community College landed the #2 spot on the list. Metropolitan Community College is a public institution located in Omaha, Nebraska. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 30 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend MCC is $3,257 for plains states region criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 5.0% 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 & Corrections at Metropolitan Community College

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Minnesota State University - Mankato. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. This fairly large school is located in Mankato, Minnesota, and it awarded 105 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Minnesota State Mankato, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Minnesota State University - Mankato is $12,263 for Plains States Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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 & Corrections at Minnesota State University - Mankato

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Iowa State University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Iowa State is a public institution located in Ames, Iowa. The school has a large population, and it awarded 135 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Iowa State also made our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #6. It costs about $11,427 for Plains States Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Iowa State University.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% 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 Iowa State University Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

5
Northeast crest
Northeast Community College
Norfolk, Nebraska

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northeast Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Northeast Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Norfolk, Nebraska. It awarded 34 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Northeast Community College is $7,170 for Plains States Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 5.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Northeast

6

Missouri Southern State University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Missouri Southern is a small school located in Joplin, Missouri that handed out 269 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Missouri Southern State University is $7,731 for plains states region criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Missouri Southern

7
Truman State crest
Truman State University
Kirksville, Missouri

Truman State University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Truman State University is a small school located in Kirksville, Missouri that handed out 35 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Truman State is $8,898 for plains states region criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% 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 Truman State University Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

8

With a ranking of #8, University of Nebraska at Omaha did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Nebraska at Omaha is a fairly large school located in Omaha, Nebraska that handed out 280 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

UNOMAHA also made our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #8. The estimated yearly cost for UNOMAHA is $11,294 for plains states region criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at University of Nebraska at Omaha

9

North Dakota State University - Main Campus landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. North Dakota State University - Main Campus is a public institution located in Fargo, North Dakota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 62 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

North Dakota State University also made our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #2. It costs about $12,735 for Plains States Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend North Dakota State University - Main Campus.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% 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 North Dakota State University - Main Campus Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

10

With a ranking of #10, Des Moines Area Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. DMACC is a large public school situated in Ankeny, Iowa. It awarded 80 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for DMACC is $8,122 for Plains States Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Des Moines Area Community College

11
MSU crest
Minot State University
Minot, North Dakota

Minot State University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Minot, North Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s criminal justice degrees to 43 students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend MSU is $9,060 for plains states region criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at MSU

12
JeffCo crest
Jefferson College
Hillsboro, Missouri

With a ranking of #12, Jefferson College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Jefferson College is a small school located in Hillsboro, Missouri that handed out 37 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $7,094 for Plains States Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Jefferson College.

Full Jefferson College Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

13

With a ranking of #13, Alexandria Technical & Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Alexandria, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s criminal justice degrees to 128 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at ATCC, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend ATCC is $11,538 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 & Corrections at ATCC

14
St. Cloud State University crest
Saint Cloud State University
Saint Cloud, Minnesota

Saint Cloud State University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Saint Cloud State University is a fairly large public school situated in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. It awarded 84 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

St. Cloud State University also made our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #15. The estimated yearly cost for St. Cloud State University is $10,825 for plains states region criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Saint Cloud State University

15

Fond du Lac Tribal and Community 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 #15. Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College is a small school located in Cloquet, Minnesota that handed out 48 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College is $8,210 for plains states region criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College

16
North Hennepin Community College crest
North Hennepin Community College
Brooklyn Park, Minnesota

With a ranking of #16, North Hennepin Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. North Hennepin Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. It awarded 47 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $8,926 for Plains States Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend North Hennepin Community College.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at North Hennepin Community College

17

With a ranking of #17, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. SMU MN is a private not-for-profit institution located in Winona, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 23 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

SMU MN also made our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #3. The estimated yearly cost for SMU MN is $16,493 for plains states region criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% 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 SMU MN Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

18
UND crest
University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, North Dakota

With a ranking of #18, University of North Dakota did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UND is a fairly large public school situated in Grand Forks, North Dakota. It awarded 61 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

UND did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $13,151 for Plains States Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of North Dakota.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at University of North Dakota

19
Northland Community and Technical College crest
Northland Community and Technical College
Thief River Falls, Minnesota

With a ranking of #19, Northland Community and Technical College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Thief River Falls, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s criminal justice degrees to 12 students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Northland Community and Technical College is $10,135 for Plains States Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Northland Community and Technical College Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

20
IHCC crest
Inver Hills Community College
Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota

Inver Hills Community College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s criminal justice degrees to 37 students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $9,407 for Plains States Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend IHCC.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Inver Hills Community College

21

Central Christian College of Kansas ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in McPherson, Kansas, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 41 diplomas to qualified ’s criminal justice students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Central Christian College, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $9,290 for plains states region criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Central Christian College of Kansas.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Central Christian College of Kansas

22
Southeast Missouri State University crest
Southeast Missouri State University
Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Southeast Missouri State University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Southeast Missouri State University is a public institution located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 58 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Southeast Missouri State University is $11,406 for Plains States Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Southeast Missouri State University

23
Hibbing Community College crest
Hibbing Community College
Hibbing, Minnesota

Hibbing Community College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Hibbing, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s criminal justice degrees to 19 students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Hibbing Community College is $7,721 for Plains States Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Hibbing Community College Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

24
Normandale Community College crest
Normandale Community College
Bloomington, Minnesota

Normandale Community College landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Normandale Community College is a medium-sized school located in Bloomington, Minnesota that handed out 49 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

Normandale Community College also took the #25 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $9,521 for plains states region criminal justice students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Normandale Community College.

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

25
UCM crest
University of Central Missouri
Warrensburg, Missouri

University of Central Missouri landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Warrensburg, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s criminal justice degrees to 141 students in 2020-2021.

UCM also took the #21 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Central Missouri is $12,120 for Plains States Region Criminal Justice students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at University of Central Missouri

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