2026 Best Value Criminology Schools in Missouri
[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 11 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value criminology schools.
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2026 Best Value Criminology Schools in Missouri
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the criminology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Criminology Schools
University Of Missouri St Louis tops our 2026 list of the best value criminology schools in Missouri. 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. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from University Of Missouri St Louis generally make around $38,207. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Missouri St Louis admits about 63% of applicants.
University Of Missouri Kansas City came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value criminology schools. Located in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,371, with out-of-state students paying around $32,271. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $23,741. Early-career criminology graduates make about $60,324. Set against $23,741 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northwest Missouri State University earned it the #3 place for criminology. Located in the town of Maryville, Northwest Missouri State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,611, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $27,000. 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. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Missouri State University Springfield came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value criminology schools. Set in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,502, while out-of-state students pay about $18,770. Criminology graduates carry a median of $24,187 in student loans. Criminology graduates of Missouri State University Springfield earn a median of $38,966 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Missouri State University Springfield admits about 90% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in criminology will find it at Lindenwood University, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Saint Charles, Lindenwood University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $21,600 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $28,663 to complete the criminology program here. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Lindenwood University generally make around $47,448. That is a strong return on a $28,663 median debt. Lindenwood University admits about 57% of applicants.
Drury University placed #6 among the best values for criminology. Drury University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Springfield. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $36,745. Criminology graduates carry a median of $26,641 in student loans. Criminology graduates of Drury University earn a median of $37,267 early in their careers. Set against $26,641 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
Maryville University Of Saint Louis ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value criminology schools. 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. Students borrow a median of $24,499 to complete the criminology program here. Early-career criminology graduates make about $67,909. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Webster University earned the #8 position for value in criminology this year. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, Webster University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $31,750. Criminology graduates carry a median of $25,939 in student loans. Early-career criminology graduates make about $57,152. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
