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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice & Corrections (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

23 Ranked Colleges
511 Degrees Awarded
$14,300 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master's in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2019-2020, 113,581 criminal justice and corrections students received their degree, making the major the 6th most popular in the country. In 2017-2018, criminal justice and corrections graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $31,952 and had an average of $24,936 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Plains States region, there were 6,120 criminal justice and corrections graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,044 and $27,500 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 511 criminal justice and corrections graduates with average earnings and debt of $53,438 and $39,783 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 23 colleges that offered a degree in criminal justice and corrections. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great criminal justice and corrections programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the criminal justice and corrections program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. 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 Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

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

Top 23 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice & Corrections (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

#1

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Saint Cloud State University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota, this fairly large public school handed out 9 degrees to qualified masters’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

St. Cloud State University also took the #13 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at St. Cloud State University are $12,904, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Saint Cloud State University Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Minnesota State University - Mankato. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Mankato, Minnesota, this fairly large public school awarded 1 diplomas to qualified masters’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

Minnesota State Mankato did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Minnesota State University - Mankato are $8,788, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Minnesota State University - Mankato

#7 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend North Dakota State University - Main Campus. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. North Dakota State University is a fairly large school located in Fargo, North Dakota that handed out 1 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

North Dakota State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at North Dakota State University - Main Campus are $11,589, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full North Dakota State University - Main Campus Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

Out of the 23 schools in the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Nebraska at Omaha landed the #4 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Omaha, Nebraska, and it awarded 24 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNOMAHA, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Nebraska at Omaha are $16,374, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at UNOMAHA

#5

Saint Louis University

Saint Louis, Missouri
#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Saint Louis University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Saint Louis, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s criminal justice degrees to 8 students in 2019-2020.

SLU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Saint Louis University are $22,074, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at SLU

#6

Southeast Missouri State University

Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Southeast Missouri State University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Southeast Missouri State University is a fairly large school located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri that handed out 11 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Southeast Missouri State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Southeast Missouri State University are $10,792, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Southeast Missouri State University

#7

Concordia University, Saint Paul

Saint Paul, Minnesota

Concordia University, Saint Paul ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Concordia University, Saint Paul is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It awarded 21 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k list, Concordia University, Saint Paul has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Concordia University, Saint Paul are $8,550.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Concordia University, Saint Paul

#19 in overall quality

Missouri Southern State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #8. Missouri Southern State University is located in Joplin, Missouri and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 masters’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

Missouri Southern also took the #19 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Missouri Southern are $6,300, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Missouri Southern Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#9

University of Central Missouri

Warrensburg, Missouri

With a ranking of #9, University of Central Missouri did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UCM is a public institution located in Warrensburg, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 14 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k list, UCM has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UCM are $16,394.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at University of Central Missouri

#10

Simpson College

Indianola, Iowa

Simpson College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Simpson College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Indianola, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 9 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Simpson College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Simpson College are $8,868.

Full Simpson College Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#11

University of Missouri - Kansas City

Kansas City, Missouri
#18 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, University of Missouri - Kansas City did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Kansas City, Missouri, this fairly large public school awarded 8 degrees to qualified masters’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

UMKC also made our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #18. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Missouri - Kansas City are $26,699, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Missouri - Kansas City Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#12

Wichita State University

Wichita, Kansas

Wichita State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. Wichita State University is a fairly large school located in Wichita, Kansas that handed out 17 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

WSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Wichita State University are $15,112, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Wichita State University

#13

Washburn University

Topeka, Kansas

Washburn University landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Topeka, Kansas, and it awarded 4 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Washburn University also made our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #22. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Washburn University are $19,206.

Full Washburn University Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#14

Webster University

Saint Louis, Missouri
#10 in overall quality

Webster University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Saint Louis, Missouri is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s criminal justice degrees to 37 students in 2019-2020.

Webster also took the #10 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Webster are $13,500, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Webster

#15

Bellevue University

Bellevue, Nebraska

Bellevue University landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Bellevue, Nebraska is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s criminal justice degrees to 36 students in 2019-2020.

Bellevue University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Bellevue University are $11,385.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Bellevue University

#16

Metropolitan State University

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#20 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, Metropolitan State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Metropolitan State University is a public institution located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Metro State also took the #20 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Metro State are $17,552, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Metro State

#17

Capella University

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Capella University landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Capella University is a large private for-profit school situated in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It awarded 79 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k list, Capella University has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Capella University are $14,767, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Capella University Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#18

Missouri Baptist University

Saint Louis, Missouri
#24 in overall quality

With a ranking of #18, Missouri Baptist University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Saint Louis, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s criminal justice degrees to 5 students in 2019-2020.

MBU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #24 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at MBU are $10,256.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Missouri Baptist University

#19

Mount Mercy University

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

With a ranking of #19, Mount Mercy University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 20 degrees to qualified masters’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

Mount Mercy also made our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #15. Average graduate tuition and fees at Mount Mercy University are $10,870, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Mount Mercy

#20

Saint Ambrose University

Davenport, Iowa

Saint Ambrose University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #20. This small school is located in Davenport, Iowa, and it awarded 14 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

St. Ambrose University also took the #9 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at St. Ambrose University are $18,150, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at St. Ambrose University

#21

Southwestern College

Winfield, Kansas
#11 in overall quality

Southwestern College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Winfield, Kansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s criminal justice degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

SC also made our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #11. Average graduate tuition and fees at SC are $12,174, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Southwestern College

#22

University of St Thomas Minnesota

Saint Paul, Minnesota

University of St Thomas Minnesota did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #22. University of St Thomas Minnesota is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It awarded 7 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k list, UST MN has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UST MN are $24,814.

Full UST MN Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#23

Columbia College

Columbia, Missouri

Columbia College landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Columbia College Missouri is located in Columbia, Missouri and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 25 masters’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Columbia College Missouri, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Columbia College are $8,584.

Full Columbia College Missouri Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

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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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