2027 Best Criminal Justice Schools in Iowa

Criminal Justice degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their criminal justice programs.

College Factual analyzed 2 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best criminal justice schools.

What’s on this page:

• Best Criminal Justice Schools in Iowa

Best Schools for Criminal Justice in Iowa

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall criminal justice education in Iowa.

Top Schools in Criminal Justice

1

University Of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, IA

26 Criminal Justice Degrees Awarded

$43,748 Median Starting Salary

University Of Northern Iowa tops our 2027 ranking of the best criminal justice schools. University Of Northern Iowa is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Falls. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 26 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at University Of Northern Iowa in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from University Of Northern Iowa generally make around $43,748. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500. See the full criminal justice program report for University Of Northern Iowa

2

Mount Mercy University
Cedar Rapids, IA

10 Criminal Justice Degrees Awarded

$48,841 Median Starting Salary

Mount Mercy University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Cedar Rapids, Mount Mercy University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 10 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Mount Mercy University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Mount Mercy University generally make around $48,841. Typical student debt for the program is $25,500. See the full criminal justice program report for Mount Mercy University

Notes and References

This list is compiled 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 · 2 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.