2026 Best Value Criminology Schools in Minnesota

[Criminology](/majors/social-sciences/criminology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 5 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for criminology students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Criminology Schools in Minnesota
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in criminology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Criminology Schools
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities tops our 2026 list of the best value criminology schools in Minnesota. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. Students from in state pay about $17,214 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $38,362. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $20,500. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $41,780. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%.
University Of Minnesota Duluth came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value criminology schools. University Of Minnesota Duluth is a large public school located in the city of Duluth. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,608, compared with $20,134 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,887 to complete the criminology program here. Criminology graduates of University Of Minnesota Duluth earn a median of $42,562 early in their careers. Set against $23,887 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Hamline University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value criminology schools. Set in the city of Saint Paul, Hamline University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $50,004. Criminology graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. Early-career criminology graduates make about $41,204. Set against $26,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes University Of St Thomas Minnesota one of the best values for criminology. Set in the city of Saint Paul, University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $54,398. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $27,000. Criminology graduates of University Of St Thomas Minnesota earn a median of $41,780 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
More Criminology Rankings
View All Criminology Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.