2027 Best Criminal Justice Schools in the The Plains States Region
Criminal Justice degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 19 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for criminal justice students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Criminal Justice in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall criminal justice education in the The Plains States Region.
Top Schools in Criminal Justice
University Of Northern Iowa is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in criminal justice. Set in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Northern Iowa awarded about 26 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of University Of Northern Iowa earn a median of $43,748 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from University Of Northern Iowa
A rank of #2 makes Park University one of the top schools for criminal justice. Park University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Parkville. About 37% of students finish within six years. Park University awarded about 103 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $49,305 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,299.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Park University
University Of Central Missouri is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice, ranking #3. This large public university is located in the town of Warrensburg. University Of Central Missouri graduates 54% of students within six years. University Of Central Missouri awarded about 109 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of University Of Central Missouri earn a median of $41,494 early in their careers. University Of Central Missouri graduates carry a median of $23,279 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from University Of Central Missouri
Washburn University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice, landing the #4 spot this year. Washburn University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Topeka. The six-year graduation rate is 44%. About 13 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Washburn University in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $40,052 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,822 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice program at Washburn University
Students looking for a strong criminal justice program will find one at Concordia University Saint Paul, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Concordia University Saint Paul is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Concordia University Saint Paul graduates 45% of students within six years. There were roughly 12 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Concordia University Saint Paul in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Concordia University Saint Paul generally make around $65,867. Students borrow a median of $28,076 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Concordia University Saint Paul
Johnson County Community College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice schools. Set in the city of Overland Park, Johnson County Community College is a very large public institution. Johnson County Community College awarded about 63 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $55,171 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,106 to complete this degree.
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Columbia College Missouri came in at #7 for criminal justice this year. Columbia College Missouri is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Columbia. About 43% of students finish within six years. About 103 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Columbia College Missouri in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Columbia College Missouri generally make around $46,741. Columbia College Missouri graduates carry a median of $27,344 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Columbia College Missouri
Mount Mercy University landed the #8 spot for criminal justice this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cedar Rapids. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. About 10 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Mount Mercy University in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Mount Mercy University earn around $48,841 in the first couple years of their career. Mount Mercy University graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice program at Mount Mercy University
Southwest Minnesota State University earned the #9 position for criminal justice this year. Located in the town of Marshall, Southwest Minnesota State University is a large public university. About 44% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 15 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Southwest Minnesota State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $47,898 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice program report for Southwest Minnesota State University
Sterling College Kansas earned the #10 position for criminal justice this year. Sterling College Kansas is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Sterling. The six-year graduation rate is 41%. Sterling College Kansas awarded about 13 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Sterling College Kansas earn around $30,086 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,250.
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Walden University landed the #11 spot for criminal justice this year. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Walden University is a very large private for-profit university. Walden University awarded about 237 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Walden University earn around $60,276 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $48,133.
Get the full criminal justice details for Walden University
Central Christian College Of Kansas came in at #12 for criminal justice this year. Located in the town of McPherson, Central Christian College Of Kansas is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 26% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 18 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Central Christian College Of Kansas in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $55,453 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $36,076 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Central Christian College Of Kansas
Missouri Southern State University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice schools. Missouri Southern State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Joplin. Roughly 40% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 51 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Missouri Southern State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Missouri Southern State University generally make around $32,776. Missouri Southern State University graduates carry a median of $21,972 in student loans.
Get the full criminal justice details for Missouri Southern State University
York College Nebraska ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the town of York. The six-year graduation rate is 47%. About 10 criminal justice degrees were awarded at York College Nebraska in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from York College Nebraska generally make around $34,170. Students borrow a median of $28,370 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice program at York College Nebraska
Drury University College Of Continuing Professional Studies came in at #15 for criminal justice this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Drury University College Of Continuing Professional Studies is a small private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 21% of students complete a degree within six years here. Drury University College Of Continuing Professional Studies awarded about 61 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $39,646 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,133 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Drury University College Of Continuing Professional Studies
Central Methodist University College Of Liberal Arts And Sciences landed the #16 spot for criminal justice this year. Set in the rural area of Fayette, Central Methodist University College Of Liberal Arts And Sciences is a small private not-for-profit institution. Central Methodist University College Of Liberal Arts And Sciences graduates 51% of students within six years. About 11 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Central Methodist University College Of Liberal Arts And Sciences in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Central Methodist University College Of Liberal Arts And Sciences earn around $36,223 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
Read more about the criminal justice program at Central Methodist University College Of Liberal Arts And Sciences
Central Methodist University College Of Graduate And Extended Studies landed the #17 spot for criminal justice this year. Central Methodist University College Of Graduate And Extended Studies is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Fayette. Central Methodist University College Of Graduate And Extended Studies awarded about 10 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Central Methodist University College Of Graduate And Extended Studies earn around $36,223 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Central Methodist University College Of Graduate And Extended Studies
Culver Stockton College placed #18 among the best criminal justice schools. Located in the rural area of Canton, Culver Stockton College is a small private not-for-profit university. About 39% of students finish within six years. About 11 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Culver Stockton College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Culver Stockton College generally make around $33,394. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Read more about the criminal justice program at Culver Stockton College
Lincoln University Missouri ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice schools. Set in the city of Jefferson City, Lincoln University Missouri is a mid-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 20%. There were roughly 11 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Lincoln University Missouri in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $32,331 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $37,171.
See the full criminal justice program report for Lincoln University Missouri
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 19 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.
