2027 Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools in Missouri
[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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 10 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 Missouri
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the criminal justice & police science degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools
Jefferson College earned the #1 spot for value among criminal justice & police science schools in Missouri. Set in the rural area of Hillsboro, Jefferson College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,250, with out-of-state students paying around $8,850. Students borrow a median of $13,664 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $61,641. Set against $13,664 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Metropolitan Community College Kansas City is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & police science, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Kansas City, Metropolitan Community College Kansas City is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,630, with out-of-state students paying around $9,600. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $4,821 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Metropolitan Community College Kansas City earn a median of $48,137 early in their careers. Set against $4,821 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Saint Louis Community College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Set in the suburb of Bridgeton, Saint Louis Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,660, while out-of-state students pay about $6,990. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $6,625 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Saint Louis Community College earn a median of $38,999 early in their careers. Set against $6,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Crowder College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & police science, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the town of Neosho, Crowder College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,104, compared with $5,784 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $9,887. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $33,869. Set against $9,887 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Drury University College Of Continuing Professional Studies is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & police science, landing the #5 spot this year. Drury University College Of Continuing Professional Studies is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Springfield. Students from in state pay about $8,054 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $21,133 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $39,646. That is a strong return on a $21,133 median debt.
Missouri Southern State University placed #6 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Missouri Southern State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Joplin. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,600, compared with $18,300 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $21,972. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $32,776. Set against $21,972 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Mineral Area College came in at #7 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Mineral Area College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Park Hills. In-state tuition and fees average $5,660, with out-of-state students paying around $8,570. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $45,217. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
Missouri Western State University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Located in the city of Saint Joseph, Missouri Western State University is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $9,545 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,455. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $20,149 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $41,107. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Central Missouri ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. University Of Central Missouri is a large public school located in the town of Warrensburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,050, compared with $18,600 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $23,279 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from University Of Central Missouri generally make around $45,496. Set against $23,279 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Central Missouri admits about 64% of applicants.
Lincoln University Missouri ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Lincoln University Missouri is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Jefferson City. Students from in state pay about $9,796 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,692. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $37,171 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $37,449. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.
