2027 Best Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools in the The Plains States Region
Criminal Justice & Police Science programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 34 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best criminal justice & police science schools.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Criminal Justice & Police Science in the The Plains States Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the criminal justice & police science degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Criminal Justice & Police Science
No school ranked higher than Minnesota State University Mankato this year for criminal justice & police science. Set in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. About 29 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Minnesota State University Mankato in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Minnesota State University Mankato earn a median of $49,019 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Minnesota State University Mankato
A rank of #2 makes Western Iowa Tech Community College one of the top schools for criminal justice & police science. Western Iowa Tech Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Sioux City. There were roughly 21 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Western Iowa Tech Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Western Iowa Tech Community College earn around $43,547 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,500.
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Southeast Technical Institute is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice & police science, ranking #3. Southeast Technical Institute is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Sioux Falls. About 13 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Southeast Technical Institute in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Southeast Technical Institute generally make around $49,560. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete this degree.
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Normandale Community College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. This large public university is located in the city of Bloomington. About 16 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Normandale Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Normandale Community College generally make around $53,871. Typical student debt for the program is $12,891.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Normandale Community College
Students looking for a strong criminal justice & police science program will find one at Hawkeye Community College, which ranked #5. Hawkeye Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Waterloo. About 15 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Hawkeye Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Hawkeye Community College earn around $49,572 in the first couple years of their career. Hawkeye Community College graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans.
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Des Moines Area Community College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Ankeny. Des Moines Area Community College awarded about 48 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Des Moines Area Community College earn a median of $42,555 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Des Moines Area Community College
Alexandria Technical And Community College came in at #7 for criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the town of Alexandria, Alexandria Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public institution. There were roughly 144 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Alexandria Technical And Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Alexandria Technical And Community College generally make around $50,433. Students borrow a median of $15,400 to complete this degree.
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Metropolitan State University placed #8 among the best criminal justice & police science schools. Set in the city of Saint Paul, Metropolitan State University is a moderately-sized public institution. About 44% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 28 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Metropolitan State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Metropolitan State University earn around $52,125 in the first couple years of their career. Metropolitan State University graduates carry a median of $31,213 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Metropolitan State University
Lake Area Technical Institute placed #9 among the best criminal justice & police science schools. Set in the town of Watertown, Lake Area Technical Institute is a mid-sized public institution. About 12 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Lake Area Technical Institute in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Lake Area Technical Institute earn a median of $41,230 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000.
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Northland Community And Technical College came in at #10 for criminal justice & police science this year. Northland Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Thief River Falls. About 12 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Northland Community And Technical College in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Northland Community And Technical College earn a median of $47,216 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,138 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at Northland Community And Technical College
Saint Louis Community College earned the #11 position for criminal justice & police science this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Bridgeton. Saint Louis Community College awarded about 24 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Saint Louis Community College earn a median of $38,999 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $6,625 to complete this degree.
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Rasmussen College Minnesota earned the #12 position for criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the city of St. Cloud, Rasmussen College Minnesota is a large private for-profit institution. Rasmussen College Minnesota awarded about 94 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Rasmussen College Minnesota earn around $51,300 in the first couple years of their career. Rasmussen College Minnesota graduates carry a median of $30,710 in student loans.
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Century College placed #13 among the best criminal justice & police science schools. Located in the suburb of White Bear Lake, Century College is a large public university. About 90 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Century College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $54,174 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,366 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Century College
Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Hibbing. About 57 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College generally make around $56,757. Students borrow a median of $25,125 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College
Rochester Community And Technical College earned the #15 position for criminal justice & police science this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Rochester. Rochester Community And Technical College awarded about 50 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Rochester Community And Technical College generally make around $50,418. Rochester Community And Technical College graduates carry a median of $14,470 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Rochester Community And Technical College
Riverland Community College came in at #16 for criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the town of Austin, Riverland Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Riverland Community College awarded about 16 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Riverland Community College generally make around $49,194. Typical student debt for the program is $15,732.
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Lake Region State College came in at #17 for criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the town of Devils Lake, Lake Region State College is a mid-sized public institution. There were roughly 38 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Lake Region State College in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Lake Region State College earn a median of $57,765 early in their careers. Lake Region State College graduates carry a median of $10,131 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Lake Region State College
North Hennepin Community College placed #18 among the best criminal justice & police science schools. Set in the suburb of Brooklyn Park, North Hennepin Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. North Hennepin Community College awarded about 23 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from North Hennepin Community College earn around $53,797 in the first couple years of their career. North Hennepin Community College graduates carry a median of $30,250 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice & police science program report for North Hennepin Community College
Northeast Community College landed the #19 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the town of Norfolk, Northeast Community College is a moderately-sized public university. About 20 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Northeast Community College in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Northeast Community College earn a median of $33,064 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $9,000 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Northeast Community College
Fond Du Lac Tribal And Community College came in at #20 for criminal justice & police science this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Cloquet. Fond Du Lac Tribal And Community College awarded about 35 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Fond Du Lac Tribal And Community College earn around $51,144 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,665 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Fond Du Lac Tribal And Community College
Hennepin Technical College landed the #21 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. Hennepin Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park. There were roughly 217 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Hennepin Technical College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $56,699 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,854.
See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Hennepin Technical College
Iowa Central Community College ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. Located in the town of Fort Dodge, Iowa Central Community College is a moderately-sized public university. About 31 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Iowa Central Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Iowa Central Community College generally make around $39,121. Typical student debt for the program is $14,473.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Iowa Central Community College
Minnesota West Community And Technical College came in at #23 for criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the rural area of Granite Falls, Minnesota West Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 15 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Minnesota West Community And Technical College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $43,009 in their early career. Minnesota West Community And Technical College graduates carry a median of $13,946 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at Minnesota West Community And Technical College
Indian Hills Community College landed the #24 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Ottumwa. There were roughly 15 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Indian Hills Community College in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Indian Hills Community College earn a median of $49,626 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,390 to complete this degree.
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Mineral Area College placed #25 among the best criminal justice & police science schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Park Hills. There were roughly 52 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Mineral Area College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Mineral Area College generally make around $45,217. Mineral Area College graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 34 Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools
These schools also placed among the best for criminal justice & police science this year:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 34 schools evaluated.
- 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.
