2027 Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools in Minnesota
[Criminal Justice & Police Science](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/criminal-justice-and-police-science/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 19 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value criminal justice & police science schools.
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2027 Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools in Minnesota
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in criminal justice & police science, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools
Riverland Community College tops our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools in Minnesota. Set in the town of Austin, Riverland Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,297. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $15,732. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Riverland Community College generally make around $49,194. Set against $15,732 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ridgewater College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & police science, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the town of Willmar, Ridgewater College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,121. Students borrow a median of $15,556 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $49,040. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Hennepin Technical College earned it the #3 place for criminal justice & police science. Hennepin Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,940. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $19,854 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $56,699. That is a strong return on a $19,854 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College one of the best values for criminal justice & police science. Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Hibbing. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,022. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $25,125. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College generally make around $56,757. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Century College earned it the #5 place for criminal justice & police science. Set in the suburb of White Bear Lake, Century College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,214 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $19,366. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Century College earn a median of $54,174 early in their careers. Set against $19,366 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Minnesota West Community And Technical College landed the #6 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Set in the rural area of Granite Falls, Minnesota West Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,491. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $13,946. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $43,009. That is a strong return on a $13,946 median debt.
Inver Hills Community College placed #7 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Inver Hills Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Inver Grove Heights. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,146. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $23,690 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $52,724. That is a strong return on a $23,690 median debt.
North Hennepin Community College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Set in the suburb of Brooklyn Park, North Hennepin Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,061. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $30,250 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of North Hennepin Community College earn a median of $53,797 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Minnesota Crookston earned the #9 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. University Of Minnesota Crookston is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Crookston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,288. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $26,661 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of University Of Minnesota Crookston earn a median of $48,840 early in their careers. Set against $26,661 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Fond Du Lac Tribal And Community College landed the #10 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Set in the town of Cloquet, Fond Du Lac Tribal And Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,006. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $15,665 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Fond Du Lac Tribal And Community College generally make around $51,144. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Normandale Community College placed #11 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Normandale Community College is a large public school located in the city of Bloomington. In-state tuition and fees average $6,329. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $12,891. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $53,871. Set against $12,891 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Alexandria Technical And Community College placed #12 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Alexandria Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Alexandria. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,236. Students borrow a median of $15,400 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Alexandria Technical And Community College earn a median of $50,433 early in their careers. Set against $15,400 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Minneapolis Community And Technical College placed #13 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Minneapolis Community And Technical College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,161. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $30,000. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Minneapolis Community And Technical College earn a median of $50,959 early in their careers. Set against $30,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Lakes College Brainerd ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Central Lakes College Brainerd is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Brainerd. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,249. Students borrow a median of $14,479 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Central Lakes College Brainerd generally make around $44,264. Set against $14,479 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northland Community And Technical College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Northland Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Thief River Falls. Students from in state pay about $6,289 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $12,138 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Northland Community And Technical College generally make around $47,216. Set against $12,138 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rochester Community And Technical College came in at #16 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the city of Rochester, Rochester Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,389. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $14,470 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $50,418. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Metropolitan State University earned the #17 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Metropolitan State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Saint Paul. Students from in state pay about $9,840 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $31,213. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $52,125. That is a strong return on a $31,213 median debt. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Rasmussen College Minnesota ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Rasmussen College Minnesota is a large private for-profit school located in the city of St. Cloud. In-state tuition and fees average $12,199. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $30,710. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Rasmussen College Minnesota earn a median of $51,300 early in their careers. Set against $30,710 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Minnesota State University Mankato landed the #19 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Located in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,572, compared with $18,942 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Minnesota State University Mankato generally make around $49,019. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 19 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 19 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.
