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2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

20 Ranked Colleges
1,002 Degrees Awarded
$14,800 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.

Criminal Justice is the 32nd most popular major in the country with 33,568 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

Across the Plains States region, there were 1,698 criminal justice graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,002 criminal justice graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,786 and $25,576 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 20 colleges that offer a degree in criminal justice. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great criminal justice programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the criminal justice program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region bachelor’s degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 20 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

#6 in overall quality

Out of the 20 schools in the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Southwest Minnesota State University landed the #1 spot on the list. Southwest Minnesota State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Marshall, Minnesota. It awarded 19 bachelors’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Southwest Minnesota State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Southwest Minnesota State University is $10,801 for plains states region bachelor’s degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Southwest Minnesota State University

#2

University of Central Missouri

Warrensburg, Missouri
#5 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Central Missouri. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UCM is a medium-sized public school situated in Warrensburg, Missouri. It awarded 130 bachelors’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

UCM also took the #5 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $10,608 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Central Missouri.

Full University of Central Missouri Criminal Justice Report

#16 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Missouri Southern State University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Missouri Southern State University is a public institution located in Joplin, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 69 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k list, Missouri Southern has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Missouri Southern State University is $7,882 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Missouri Southern Criminal Justice Report

#4

Park University

Parkville, Missouri
#2 in overall quality

Out of the 20 schools in the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Park University landed the #4 spot on the list. Park University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Parkville, Missouri. It awarded 146 bachelors’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Park University also made our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #2. It costs about $13,622 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Park University.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Park University

#7 in overall quality

Out of the 20 schools in the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Missouri - Kansas City landed the #5 spot on the list. UMKC is located in Kansas City, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 69 bachelors’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

UMKC also took the #7 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $12,065 for plains states region bachelor’s degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UMKC.

Full UMKC Criminal Justice Report

#6

Lincoln University

Jefferson City, Missouri
#18 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, Lincoln University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Jefferson City, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s criminal justice degrees to 25 students in 2019-2020.

LU Missouri also made our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #18. The estimated yearly cost for Lincoln University is $4,603 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Lincoln University

#7

Washburn University

Topeka, Kansas
#15 in overall quality

Washburn University landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Washburn University is located in Topeka, Kansas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 14 bachelors’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

Washburn University also made our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #15. The yearly cost to attend Washburn University is $11,054 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Washburn University Criminal Justice Report

#3 in overall quality

Central Christian College of Kansas came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Central Christian College is a private not-for-profit institution located in McPherson, Kansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 26 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Central Christian College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Central Christian College of Kansas is $16,401 for plains states region bachelor’s degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Central Christian College of Kansas

#9

Rockhurst University

Kansas City, Missouri
#10 in overall quality

Rockhurst University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. Rockhurst University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Kansas City, Missouri. It awarded 7 bachelors’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Rockhurst not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Rockhurst University is $14,869 for plains states region bachelor’s degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Rockhurst University

#10

Waldorf University

Forest City, Iowa
#1 in overall quality

Waldorf University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Forest City, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out bachelors’s criminal justice degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.

Waldorf did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Waldorf is $19,719 for plains states region bachelor’s degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Waldorf

#11

Culver - Stockton College

Canton, Missouri
#12 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, Culver - Stockton College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Canton, Missouri, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 15 degrees to qualified bachelors’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Culver - Stockton, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Culver - Stockton College is $17,175 for plains states region bachelor’s degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Culver - Stockton Criminal Justice Report

#12

Southwest Baptist University

Bolivar, Missouri
#17 in overall quality

Southwest Baptist University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. Southwest Baptist University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Bolivar, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 7 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Southwest Baptist University, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Southwest Baptist University is $15,909 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Southwest Baptist University

#13

Mount Mercy University

Cedar Rapids, Iowa
#8 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, Mount Mercy University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Mount Mercy is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It awarded 17 bachelors’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Mount Mercy did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $13,992 for plains states region bachelor’s degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Mount Mercy University.

The low student loan default rate of 4.3% 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 at Mount Mercy

#14

Grantham University

Lenexa, Kansas
#19 in overall quality

Grantham University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Grantham University is a private for-profit institution located in Lenexa, Kansas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 117 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k list, Grantham University has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Grantham University is $8,234 for plains states region bachelor’s degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Grantham University

#11 in overall quality

Central Methodist University - College of Liberal Arts & Sciences did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. Fayette, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s criminal justice degrees to 23 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at CMU CLAS, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for CMU CLAS is $18,888 for plains states region bachelor’s degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Criminal Justice at CMU CLAS

#16

Hannibal - LaGrange University

Hannibal, Missouri
#14 in overall quality

Hannibal - LaGrange University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #16. Hannibal - LaGrange University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Hannibal, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 16 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

HLGU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend HLGU is $19,932 for plains states region bachelor’s degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full HLGU Criminal Justice Report

#17

Evangel University

Springfield, Missouri
#13 in overall quality

Evangel University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Evangel University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Springfield, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 6 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Evangel not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Evangel University is $21,243 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 5.0% 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%.

Full Evangel University Criminal Justice Report

#18

Columbia College

Columbia, Missouri
#4 in overall quality

Columbia College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Columbia College Missouri is a private not-for-profit institution located in Columbia, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 145 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Columbia College Missouri, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Columbia College Missouri is $29,149 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Criminal Justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Columbia College Criminal Justice Report

#20 in overall quality

Central Methodist University - College of Graduate & Extended Studies landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Fayette, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s criminal justice degrees to 15 students in 2019-2020.

CMU CGES not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for CMU CGES is $17,407 for plains states region bachelor’s degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at CMU CGES

#21 in overall quality

Drury University - College of Continuing Professional Studies came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Drury University - College of Continuing Professional Studies is a private not-for-profit institution located in Springfield, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 32 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Drury University - CCPS, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Drury University - CCPS is $12,351 for plains states region bachelor’s degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Drury University - CCPS

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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