2026 Best Value Criminology Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Criminology](/majors/social-sciences/criminology/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 31 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value criminology schools.
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2026 Best Value Criminology Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in criminology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Criminology Schools
University Of Missouri Kansas City earned the #1 spot for value among criminology schools in the The Plains States Region. University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public school located in the city of Kansas City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,371, with out-of-state students paying around $32,271. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $23,741. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from University Of Missouri Kansas City generally make around $60,324. That is a strong return on a $23,741 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
University Of Missouri St Louis came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value criminology schools. University Of Missouri St Louis is a large public school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,120, with out-of-state students paying around $37,620. Students borrow a median of $22,801 to complete the criminology program here. Criminology graduates of University Of Missouri St Louis earn a median of $38,207 early in their careers. Set against $22,801 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Missouri St Louis admits about 63% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Northern Iowa one of the best values for criminology. Set in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,936 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,712. Students borrow a median of $24,683 to complete the criminology program here. Criminology graduates of University Of Northern Iowa earn a median of $43,914 early in their careers. Set against $24,683 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value criminology schools. Located in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,214, while out-of-state students pay about $38,362. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the criminology program here. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $41,780. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Northwest Missouri State University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value criminology schools. Set in the town of Maryville, Northwest Missouri State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,611, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Criminology graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Northwest Missouri State University generally make around $42,939. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Northwest Missouri State University admits about 86% of applicants.
Missouri State University Springfield came in at #6 for value in criminology this year. Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public school located in the city of Springfield. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,502, while out-of-state students pay about $18,770. Students borrow a median of $24,187 to complete the criminology program here. Criminology graduates of Missouri State University Springfield earn a median of $38,966 early in their careers. Set against $24,187 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Minnesota Duluth came in at #7 for value in criminology this year. University Of Minnesota Duluth is a large public school located in the city of Duluth. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,608, while out-of-state students pay about $20,134. Students borrow a median of $23,887 to complete the criminology program here. Early-career criminology graduates make about $42,562. Set against $23,887 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Minnesota Duluth admits about 89% of applicants.
South Dakota State University earned the #8 position for value in criminology this year. Set in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,299, while out-of-state students pay about $12,809. Students borrow a median of $24,989 to complete the criminology program here. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from South Dakota State University generally make around $51,260. Set against $24,989 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. South Dakota State University admits about 98% of applicants.
Lindenwood University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value criminology schools. Located in the city of Saint Charles, Lindenwood University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,600. Criminology graduates carry a median of $28,663 in student loans. Early-career criminology graduates make about $47,448. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Lindenwood University admits about 57% of applicants.
University Of Iowa earned the #10 position for value in criminology this year. Located in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,283 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $33,371. Criminology graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Early-career criminology graduates make about $38,520. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Iowa admits about 84% of applicants.
Hamline University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value criminology schools. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Hamline University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $50,004. Criminology graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Hamline University generally make around $41,204. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Hastings College earned the #12 position for value in criminology this year. Hastings College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Hastings. In-state tuition and fees average $37,770. Criminology graduates carry a median of $24,125 in student loans. Criminology graduates of Hastings College earn a median of $42,417 early in their careers. Set against $24,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Hastings College admits about 72% of applicants.
Drury University came in at #13 for value in criminology this year. Drury University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Springfield. In-state tuition and fees average $36,745. Criminology graduates carry a median of $26,641 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Drury University generally make around $37,267. Set against $26,641 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
William Penn University placed #14 among the best values for criminology. William Penn University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Oskaloosa. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $29,750. Criminology graduates carry a median of $28,341 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from William Penn University generally make around $39,727. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 52% of applicants are accepted.
Upper Iowa University placed #15 among the best values for criminology. Upper Iowa University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Fayette. Students from in state pay about $19,475 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $43,447 to complete the criminology program here. Criminology graduates of Upper Iowa University earn a median of $43,170 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Saint Mary landed the #16 spot for criminology value this year. University Of Saint Mary is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Leavenworth. Students from in state pay about $35,380 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $25,474. Early-career criminology graduates make about $42,633. That is a strong return on a $25,474 median debt. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Maryville University Of Saint Louis landed the #17 spot for criminology value this year. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $27,166. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $24,499. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Maryville University Of Saint Louis generally make around $67,909. That is a strong return on a $24,499 median debt. Maryville University Of Saint Louis admits about 95% of applicants.
Webster University earned the #18 position for value in criminology this year. Webster University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. In-state tuition and fees average $31,750. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $25,939. Early-career criminology graduates make about $57,152. That is a strong return on a $25,939 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Benedictine College placed #19 among the best values for criminology. Benedictine College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Atchison. In-state tuition and fees average $36,350. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $24,990. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Benedictine College generally make around $46,255. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 98%.
University Of St Thomas Minnesota came in at #20 for value in criminology this year. Set in the city of Saint Paul, University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $54,398. Criminology graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career criminology graduates make about $41,780. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 31 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
