2027 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in Minnesota
[Criminal Justice Studies](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/criminal-justice-studies/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong criminal justice studies education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 22 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for criminal justice studies students.
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2027 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in Minnesota
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in criminal justice studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools
Riverland Community College tops our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice studies schools in Minnesota. Located in the town of Austin, Riverland Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,297. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $15,732. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Riverland Community College earn a median of $49,194 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice studies will find it at Ridgewater College, which ranked #2. Ridgewater College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Willmar. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,121. Students borrow a median of $15,556 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Ridgewater College generally make around $49,040. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice studies will find it at Century College, which ranked #3. Century College is a large public school located in the suburb of White Bear Lake. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,214. Students borrow a median of $19,366 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Century College earn a median of $54,174 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,366 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice studies will find it at Saint Marys University Of Minnesota, which ranked #4. Set in the town of Winona, Saint Marys University Of Minnesota is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,080. Students borrow a median of $28,708 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Saint Marys University Of Minnesota earn a median of $64,894 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,708 median debt. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Inver Hills Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Inver Grove Heights, Inver Hills Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,146 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $23,690. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Inver Hills Community College generally make around $52,724. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
North Hennepin Community College placed #6 among the best values for criminal justice studies. Set in the suburb of Brooklyn Park, North Hennepin Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,061 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $30,250 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $53,797. Set against $30,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Minnesota State Community And Technical College landed the #7 spot for criminal justice studies value this year. Located in the rural area of Fergus Falls, Minnesota State Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,908. Students borrow a median of $18,197 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Minnesota State Community And Technical College earn a median of $42,972 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Normandale Community College landed the #8 spot for criminal justice studies value this year. Located in the city of Bloomington, Normandale Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,329. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $12,891 in student loans. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Normandale Community College earn a median of $53,871 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,891 median debt.
Saint Cloud State University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice studies schools. Set in the city of Saint Cloud, Saint Cloud State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,245. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $21,500. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Saint Cloud State University earn a median of $49,412 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Saint Cloud State University admits about 95% of applicants.
Fond Du Lac Tribal And Community College came in at #10 for value in criminal justice studies this year. Fond Du Lac Tribal And Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Cloquet. In-state tuition and fees average $6,006. Students borrow a median of $15,665 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Fond Du Lac Tribal And Community College earn a median of $51,144 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,665 median debt.
Minneapolis Community And Technical College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice studies schools. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Minneapolis Community And Technical College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,161. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $30,000. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Minneapolis Community And Technical College earn a median of $50,959 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $30,000 median debt.
Bemidji State University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice studies schools. Bemidji State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Bemidji. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,237. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $23,181 in student loans. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Bemidji State University earn a median of $49,617 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,181 median debt. Bemidji State University admits about 56% of applicants.
Rochester Community And Technical College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice studies schools. Located in the city of Rochester, Rochester Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,389. Students borrow a median of $14,470 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Rochester Community And Technical College earn a median of $50,418 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Lakes College Brainerd earned the #14 position for value in criminal justice studies this year. Located in the town of Brainerd, Central Lakes College Brainerd is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $6,249 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $14,479 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Central Lakes College Brainerd generally make around $44,264. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Metropolitan State University came in at #15 for value in criminal justice studies this year. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Metropolitan State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,840. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $31,213. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Metropolitan State University earn a median of $52,125 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $31,213 median debt. Metropolitan State University admits about 99% of applicants.
Minnesota State College Southeast Technical placed #16 among the best values for criminal justice studies. Located in the town of Winona, Minnesota State College Southeast Technical is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,432. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $22,522 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Minnesota State College Southeast Technical generally make around $50,290. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Winona State University earned the #17 position for value in criminal justice studies this year. Located in the town of Winona, Winona State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,576, with out-of-state students paying around $17,308. Students borrow a median of $26,012 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Winona State University earn a median of $48,861 early in their careers. Set against $26,012 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Minnesota State University Moorhead earned the #18 position for value in criminal justice studies this year. Set in the suburb of Moorhead, Minnesota State University Moorhead is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,428. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $23,485. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Minnesota State University Moorhead earn a median of $44,037 early in their careers. Set against $23,485 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 59% of applicants are accepted.
Concordia University Saint Paul landed the #19 spot for criminal justice studies value this year. Concordia University Saint Paul is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. Students from in state pay about $25,600 in tuition and fees. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $28,076 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $65,867. Set against $28,076 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Minnesota State University Mankato placed #20 among the best values for criminal justice studies. Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public school located in the city of Mankato. In-state tuition and fees average $9,572, with out-of-state students paying around $18,942. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $25,000. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $49,019. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Northwestern College Minnesota earned the #21 position for value in criminal justice studies this year. Located in the suburb of Saint Paul, Northwestern College Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,920. Students borrow a median of $23,505 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Northwestern College Minnesota generally make around $44,857. Set against $23,505 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Walden University landed the #22 spot for criminal justice studies value this year. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Walden University is a very large private for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,067. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $48,133 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $60,276. That is a strong return on a $48,133 median debt.
More Criminal Justice Studies Rankings
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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 · 22 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 22 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.
