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2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k

48 Ranked Colleges
2,506 Degrees Awarded
$11,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2020-2021, 46,814 people earned their degree in criminal justice studies, making the major the 16th most popular in the United States.

Across the Plains States region, there were 2,506 criminal justice studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 48 colleges that offer a degree in criminal justice studies. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great criminal justice studies programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the criminal justice studies program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” list to help you make the college decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Criminal Justice Studies (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region

1
Century College crest
Century College
White Bear Lake, Minnesota

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Century College. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. White Bear Lake, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s criminal justice studies degrees to 27 students in 2020-2021.

Century College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $8,628 for plains states region criminal justice studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Century College.

Full Century College Criminal Justice Studies Report

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Metropolitan Community College. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Located in Omaha, Nebraska, this fairly large public school handed out 30 diplomas to qualified ’s criminal justice studies students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $3,257 for plains states region criminal justice studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Metropolitan Community College.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 5.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Criminal Justice Studies at Metropolitan Community College

3

Out of the 48 schools in the Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Minnesota State University - Mankato landed the #3 spot on the list. Minnesota State University - Mankato is located in Mankato, Minnesota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 20 ’s criminal justice studies degrees to qualified students.

Minnesota State Mankato did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Minnesota State University - Mankato is $12,263 for plains states region criminal justice studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Minnesota State Mankato Criminal Justice Studies Report

4

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Iowa State University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Ames, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s criminal justice studies degrees to 135 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region criminal justice studies students whose families make $30-$48k list, Iowa State has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Iowa State University is $11,427 for plains states region criminal justice studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Iowa State Criminal Justice Studies Report

5
Truman State crest
Truman State University
Kirksville, Missouri

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Truman State University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Truman State University is a small school located in Kirksville, Missouri that handed out 35 ’s criminal justice studies degrees in 2020-2021.

Truman State also took the #19 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Truman State is $8,898 for Plains States Region Criminal Justice Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Criminal Justice Studies at Truman State

6

University of Nebraska at Omaha did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #6. University of Nebraska at Omaha is a public institution located in Omaha, Nebraska. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 280 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

UNOMAHA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Nebraska at Omaha is $11,294 for Plains States Region Criminal Justice Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Criminal Justice Studies at UNOMAHA

7

North Dakota State University - Main Campus ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Fargo, North Dakota, this fairly large public school handed out 62 degrees to qualified ’s criminal justice studies students in 2020-2021.

North Dakota State University also made our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #2. It costs about $12,735 for Plains States Region Criminal Justice Studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend North Dakota State University.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Criminal Justice Studies at North Dakota State University

8

Des Moines Area Community College landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Ankeny, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s criminal justice studies degrees to 23 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region criminal justice studies students whose families make $30-$48k list, DMACC has also earned the #25 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend DMACC is $8,122 for Plains States Region Criminal Justice Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Criminal Justice Studies at DMACC

9
MSU crest
Minot State University
Minot, North Dakota

With a ranking of #9, Minot State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Minot State University is a small public school situated in Minot, North Dakota. It awarded 43 ’s criminal justice studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Minot State University is $9,060 for Plains States Region Criminal Justice Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full MSU Criminal Justice Studies Report

10
St. Cloud State University crest
Saint Cloud State University
Saint Cloud, Minnesota

Saint Cloud State University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota, this fairly large public school awarded 80 diplomas to qualified ’s criminal justice studies students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at St. Cloud State University, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Saint Cloud State University is $10,825 for Plains States Region Criminal Justice Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Criminal Justice Studies at Saint Cloud State University

11
North Hennepin Community College crest
North Hennepin Community College
Brooklyn Park, Minnesota

North Hennepin Community College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, and it awarded 17 ’s criminal justice studies degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $8,926 for Plains States Region Criminal Justice Studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend North Hennepin Community College.

Full North Hennepin Community College Criminal Justice Studies Report

12

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is a private not-for-profit institution located in Winona, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 10 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

SMU MN also took the #3 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is $16,493 for plains states region criminal justice studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Criminal Justice Studies at SMU MN

13
UND crest
University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, North Dakota

University of North Dakota came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UND is a fairly large school located in Grand Forks, North Dakota that handed out 61 ’s criminal justice studies degrees in 2020-2021.

UND did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $13,151 for Plains States Region Criminal Justice Studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of North Dakota.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Criminal Justice Studies at UND

14
IHCC crest
Inver Hills Community College
Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota

With a ranking of #14, Inver Hills Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. IHCC is located in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 20 ’s criminal justice studies degrees to qualified students.

IHCC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Inver Hills Community College is $9,407 for plains states region criminal justice studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Inver Hills Community College Criminal Justice Studies Report

15
Normandale Community College crest
Normandale Community College
Bloomington, Minnesota

Normandale Community College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Normandale Community College is a public institution located in Bloomington, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 20 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Normandale Community College also took the #18 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Normandale Community College is $9,521 for Plains States Region Criminal Justice Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Criminal Justice Studies at Normandale Community College

16

Southeast Community College Area ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Lincoln, Nebraska, this medium-sized public school handed out 37 degrees to qualified ’s criminal justice studies students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Southeast Community College is $5,170 for plains states region criminal justice studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Criminal Justice Studies at Southeast Community College Area

17
Bemidji State University crest
Bemidji State University
Bemidji, Minnesota

Bemidji State University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Bemidji, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s criminal justice studies degrees to 69 students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Bemidji State University is $10,377 for Plains States Region Criminal Justice Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Criminal Justice Studies at Bemidji State University

18
Missouri Western crest
Missouri Western State University
Saint Joseph, Missouri

Missouri Western State University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Missouri Western State University is a small public school situated in Saint Joseph, Missouri. It awarded 40 ’s criminal justice studies degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $9,372 for plains states region criminal justice studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Missouri Western State University.

Full Missouri Western Criminal Justice Studies Report

19
Metro State crest
Metropolitan State University
Saint Paul, Minnesota

With a ranking of #19, Metropolitan State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, this medium-sized public school awarded 67 degrees to qualified ’s criminal justice studies students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Metro State, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Metro State is $15,185 for plains states region criminal justice studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Criminal Justice Studies at Metropolitan State University

20

With a ranking of #20, Minnesota State University - Moorhead did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Moorhead, Minnesota, this medium-sized public school handed out 26 degrees to qualified ’s criminal justice studies students in 2020-2021.

MSU Moorhead not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #24 on our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $14,194 for plains states region criminal justice studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend MSU Moorhead.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Criminal Justice Studies at Minnesota State University - Moorhead

21
Winona State crest
Winona State University
Winona, Minnesota

Winona State University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This medium-sized school is located in Winona, Minnesota, and it awarded 38 ’s criminal justice studies degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region criminal justice studies students whose families make $30-$48k list, Winona State has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Winona State is $12,963 for Plains States Region Criminal Justice Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Winona State Criminal Justice Studies Report

22
WSC crest
Wayne State College
Wayne, Nebraska

Wayne State College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Wayne State College is located in Wayne, Nebraska and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 58 ’s criminal justice studies degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $11,672 for Plains States Region Criminal Justice Studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Wayne State College.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Wayne State College Criminal Justice Studies Report

23

Wichita State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #23. Wichita State University is a public institution located in Wichita, Kansas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 83 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend WSU is $12,272 for plains states region criminal justice studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Criminal Justice Studies at WSU

24
Simpson College crest
Simpson College
Indianola, Iowa

Simpson College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #24. Indianola, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s criminal justice studies degrees to 23 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region criminal justice studies students whose families make $30-$48k list, Simpson College has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Simpson College is $15,511 for Plains States Region Criminal Justice Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Criminal Justice Studies at Simpson College

25
BVU crest
Buena Vista University
Storm Lake, Iowa

Buena Vista University landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Buena Vista University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Storm Lake, Iowa. It awarded 24 ’s criminal justice studies degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $14,348 for plains states region criminal justice studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend BVU.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Buena Vista University Criminal Justice Studies Report

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