College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2027 Best Criminal Justice Studies Schools in Iowa

13 Colleges in the United States
274 Criminal Justice Studies Degrees Awarded
$45,867 Avg Early-Career Salary

Criminal Justice Studies is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

College Factual analyzed 13 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best criminal justice studies schools.

What’s on this page:

Best Schools for Criminal Justice Studies in Iowa

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 studies degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Criminal Justice Studies

1

Leading the list is Iowa State University, our #1 school for criminal justice studies. Iowa State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ames. About 75% of students finish within six years. Iowa State University awarded about 84 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Iowa State University earn around $41,624 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250. See the full criminal justice studies program report for Iowa State University

2

Des Moines Area Community College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Ankeny, Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public university. About 19 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Des Moines Area Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Des Moines Area Community College generally make around $42,555. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000. Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Des Moines Area Community College

3
Coe College crest
Coe College
Cedar Rapids, IA

A rank of #3 makes Coe College one of the top schools for criminal justice studies. Set in the city of Cedar Rapids, Coe College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 11 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Coe College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Coe College earn around $44,511 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,900. Get the full criminal justice studies details for Coe College

4

Students looking for a strong criminal justice studies program will find one at Saint Ambrose University, which ranked #4. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Davenport. Saint Ambrose University graduates 61% of students within six years. There were roughly 10 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Saint Ambrose University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $43,579 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,528 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Saint Ambrose University

5
Morningside College crest
Morningside College
Sioux City, IA

A rank of #5 makes Morningside College one of the top schools for criminal justice studies. Set in the city of Sioux City, Morningside College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Morningside College graduates 50% of students within six years. There were roughly 10 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Morningside College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $54,988 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,281 to complete this degree. Get the full criminal justice studies details for Morningside College

6
Grand View University crest
Grand View University
Des Moines, IA

Grand View University landed the #6 spot for criminal justice studies this year. Grand View University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Des Moines. Grand View University graduates 54% of students within six years. There were roughly 18 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Grand View University in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Grand View University earn a median of $45,175 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,485 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Grand View University

7
Loras College crest
Loras College
Dubuque, IA

Loras College landed the #7 spot for criminal justice studies this year. Located in the city of Dubuque, Loras College is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. Loras College awarded about 11 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $47,413 in their early career. Loras College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Loras College

8
Waldorf College crest
Waldorf College
Forest City, IA

Waldorf College placed #8 among the best criminal justice studies schools. Located in the rural area of Forest City, Waldorf College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 24% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 29 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Waldorf College in the most recent year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Waldorf College earn a median of $42,735 early in their careers. Waldorf College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Waldorf College

9

University Of Dubuque earned the #9 position for criminal justice studies this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Dubuque. About 40% of students finish within six years. University Of Dubuque awarded about 19 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of University Of Dubuque earn a median of $46,307 early in their careers. University Of Dubuque graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. See the full criminal justice studies program report for University Of Dubuque

10

Graceland University Lamoni came in at #10 for criminal justice studies this year. Located in the rural area of Lamoni, Graceland University Lamoni is a small private not-for-profit university. Graceland University Lamoni graduates 42% of students within six years. About 14 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Graceland University Lamoni in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Graceland University Lamoni generally make around $63,443. Typical student debt for the program is $27,509. See the full criminal justice studies program report for Graceland University Lamoni

11
Simpson College crest
Simpson College
Indianola, IA

Simpson College came in at #11 for criminal justice studies this year. Simpson College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Indianola. About 63% of students finish within six years. About 17 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Simpson College in the most recent year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Simpson College earn a median of $42,862 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Simpson College

12

Iowa Western Community College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Council Bluffs. Iowa Western Community College awarded about 15 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Iowa Western Community College generally make around $43,444. Typical student debt for the program is $15,153. Get the full criminal justice studies details for Iowa Western Community College

13
Buena Vista University crest
Buena Vista University
Storm Lake, IA

Buena Vista University landed the #13 spot for criminal justice studies this year. Located in the town of Storm Lake, Buena Vista University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. Buena Vista University awarded about 17 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $37,641 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Buena Vista University

View All Criminal Justice Studies Rankings >

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 · 13 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options