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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Criminology (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

17 Ranked Colleges
769 Degrees Awarded
$15,100 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

Criminology is the 82nd most popular major in the country with 10,182 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, criminology graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $32,583 and had an average of $24,397 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Plains States region, there were 843 criminology graduates with average earnings and debt of $35,200 and $24,586 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 769 criminology graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,786 and $25,576 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 17 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in criminology. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality criminology 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 criminology program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Criminology Schools

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 17 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Criminology (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

#1

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and it awarded 120 bachelors’s criminology degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Twin Cities did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Criminology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UMN Twin Cities is $7,266 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Criminology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.2% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Criminology at UMN Twin Cities

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Duluth. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. UMN Duluth is a fairly large public school situated in Duluth, Minnesota. It awarded 62 bachelors’s criminology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMN Duluth, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Criminology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $7,443 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Criminology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth.

The low student loan default rate of 3.1% 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 UMN Duluth Criminology Report

#3

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Northern Iowa. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Cedar Falls, Iowa is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s criminology degrees to 50 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNI, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Criminology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UNI is $10,757 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Criminology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Criminology at UNI

#4

University of Missouri - St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Missouri - St Louis. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. University of Missouri - St Louis is located in Saint Louis, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 86 bachelors’s criminology degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree criminology students whose families make $0-$30k list, UMSL has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Criminology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UMSL is $7,401 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Criminology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Criminology at UMSL

#5

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa
#6 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Iowa. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. This large school is located in Iowa City, Iowa, and it awarded 95 bachelors’s criminology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree criminology students whose families make $0-$30k list, Iowa has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Criminology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Iowa is $12,975 for plains states region bachelor’s degree criminology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Criminology at Iowa

#16 in overall quality

Northwest Missouri State University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Maryville, Missouri is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s criminology degrees to 18 students in 2019-2020.

Northwest also made our “Best Criminology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #16. It costs about $9,990 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Criminology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Northwest.

Full Northwest Criminology Report

Missouri State University - Springfield ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Missouri State is a public institution located in Springfield, Missouri. The school has a large population, and it awarded 108 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Missouri State also took the #11 spot in our “Best Criminology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Missouri State is $12,527 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Criminology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Criminology at Missouri State University - Springfield

#8

Hamline University

Saint Paul, Minnesota

Hamline University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Hamline University is a small school located in Saint Paul, Minnesota that handed out 38 bachelors’s criminology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree criminology students whose families make $0-$30k list, Hamline has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Criminology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $17,038 for plains states region bachelor’s degree criminology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Hamline University.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Hamline University Criminology Report

#9

Hastings College

Hastings, Nebraska
#9 in overall quality

Hastings College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Hastings is located in Hastings, Nebraska and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 bachelors’s criminology degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree criminology students whose families make $0-$30k list, Hastings has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Criminology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Hastings College is $16,260 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Criminology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Criminology at Hastings College

#10

Maryville University of Saint Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri

Maryville University of Saint Louis came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Maryville University of Saint Louis is a fairly large school located in Saint Louis, Missouri that handed out 12 bachelors’s criminology degrees in 2019-2020.

Maryville U also took the #1 spot in our “Best Criminology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Maryville University of Saint Louis is $23,479 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Criminology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Criminology at Maryville U

#11

Avila University

Kansas City, Missouri

With a ranking of #11, Avila University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Avila is located in Kansas City, Missouri and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 13 bachelors’s criminology degrees to qualified students.

Avila not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Criminology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Avila University is $13,672 for plains states region bachelor’s degree criminology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Criminology at Avila

#12

Webster University

Saint Louis, Missouri
#8 in overall quality

Webster University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 15 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s criminology students in 2019-2020.

Webster also made our “Best Criminology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #8. The estimated yearly cost for Webster University is $18,661 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Criminology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 4.9% 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 Webster University Criminology Report

#13

University of Saint Mary

Leavenworth, Kansas

University of Saint Mary did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #13. University of Saint Mary is a small school located in Leavenworth, Kansas that handed out 13 bachelors’s criminology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree criminology students whose families make $0-$30k list, University of St. Mary has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Criminology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Saint Mary is $17,127 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Criminology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Criminology at University of Saint Mary

#14

Benedictine College

Atchison, Kansas

With a ranking of #14, Benedictine College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Atchison, Kansas, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 9 degrees to qualified bachelors’s criminology students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Benedictine College, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Criminology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Benedictine College is $18,742 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Criminology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.8% 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 Criminology at Benedictine College

#15

Drury University

Springfield, Missouri
#17 in overall quality

Drury University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. Drury University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Springfield, Missouri. It awarded 12 bachelors’s criminology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree criminology students whose families make $0-$30k list, Drury University has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Criminology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Drury University is $13,925 for plains states region bachelor’s degree criminology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Criminology at Drury University

#16

Upper Iowa University

Fayette, Iowa

Upper Iowa University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #16. This small school is located in Fayette, Iowa, and it awarded 54 bachelors’s criminology degrees in 2019-2020.

UIU also took the #14 spot in our “Best Criminology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Upper Iowa University is $21,427 for plains states region bachelor’s degree criminology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full UIU Criminology Report

#17

University of St Thomas Minnesota

Saint Paul, Minnesota

With a ranking of #17, University of St Thomas Minnesota did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Saint Paul, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s criminology degrees to 21 students in 2019-2020.

UST MN did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Criminology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of St Thomas Minnesota is $27,460 for plains states region bachelor’s degree criminology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Full University of St Thomas Minnesota Criminology Report

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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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