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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice & Corrections in the Plains States Region (With Aid)

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 Getting Aid

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. 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 Getting Aid” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

Criminal Justice & Corrections is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 6th of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 113,581 degrees were awarded to students with this major. 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.

For this year’s “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 23 colleges that offer 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 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 Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest 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 Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region master’s degree criminal justice students with aid.

Top 23 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice & Corrections in the Plains States Region (With Aid)

#1

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Saint Cloud State University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Saint Cloud, Minnesota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s criminal justice degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.

St. Cloud State University also made our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #13. Average graduate tuition and fees at St. Cloud State University are $12,904, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Saint Cloud State University

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Nebraska at Omaha. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Nebraska at Omaha is a fairly large school located in Omaha, Nebraska that handed out 24 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

UNOMAHA also took 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 more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at UNOMAHA

#3 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Minnesota State University - Mankato. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid. Minnesota State Mankato is a fairly large public school situated in Mankato, Minnesota. It awarded 1 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree criminal justice students with aid list, Minnesota State Mankato has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Minnesota State University - Mankato are $8,788, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Minnesota State Mankato Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#4

Concordia University, Saint Paul

Saint Paul, Minnesota

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Concordia University, Saint Paul. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid. Concordia University, Saint Paul is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 21 masters’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

Concordia University, Saint Paul did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Concordia University, Saint Paul are $8,550, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Concordia University, Saint Paul

#5

Bellevue University

Bellevue, Nebraska

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Bellevue 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 Getting Aid. Bellevue University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Bellevue, Nebraska. It awarded 36 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree criminal justice students with aid list, Bellevue University has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Bellevue University are $11,385, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Bellevue University

#19 in overall quality

Missouri Southern State University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Missouri Southern State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Joplin, Missouri. It awarded 7 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

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 State University are $6,300, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Missouri Southern State University Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#7 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, North Dakota State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. North Dakota State University - Main Campus is located in Fargo, North Dakota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 masters’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree criminal justice students with aid list, North Dakota State University has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at North Dakota State University are $11,589, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at North Dakota State University

#8

Southeast Missouri State University

Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Southeast Missouri State University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This fairly large school is located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and it awarded 11 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Southeast Missouri State University also made our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #17. Average graduate tuition and fees at Southeast Missouri State University are $10,792, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Southeast Missouri State University

#9

University of Central Missouri

Warrensburg, Missouri

University of Central Missouri ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Central Missouri is a medium-sized school located in Warrensburg, Missouri that handed out 14 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree criminal justice students with aid list, UCM has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCM are $16,394, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Central Missouri Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#10

University of Missouri - Kansas City

Kansas City, Missouri
#18 in overall quality

University of Missouri - Kansas City ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. UMKC is a fairly large school located in Kansas City, Missouri that handed out 8 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMKC, the school also landed the #18 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 Missouri - Kansas City are $26,699, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at UMKC

#11

Wichita State University

Wichita, Kansas

Wichita State University landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Wichita State University is a fairly large public school situated in Wichita, Kansas. It awarded 17 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

WSU also took the #23 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at WSU are $15,112, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at WSU

#12

Capella University

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Capella University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #12. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, this large private for-profit school awarded 79 degrees to qualified masters’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

Capella University also made our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #8. Average graduate tuition and fees at Capella University are $14,767, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Capella University

#13

Simpson College

Indianola, Iowa

Simpson College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Simpson College is located in Indianola, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 9 masters’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

Simpson College also took the #6 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Simpson College are $8,868, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Simpson College Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#14

Washburn University

Topeka, Kansas

Washburn 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 Getting Aid ranking. Washburn University is a medium-sized school located in Topeka, Kansas that handed out 4 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Washburn University also took the #22 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Washburn University are $19,206, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Washburn University Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#15

Metropolitan State University

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#20 in overall quality

Metropolitan State University landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Metro State is a medium-sized public school situated in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It awarded 1 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Metro State also made our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #20. Average graduate tuition and fees at Metropolitan State University are $17,552, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Metropolitan State University

#16

Webster University

Saint Louis, Missouri
#10 in overall quality

Webster University landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Webster is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Louis, Missouri. It awarded 37 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Webster did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Webster are $13,500, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Webster University Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#17

Saint Louis University

Saint Louis, Missouri
#1 in overall quality

Saint Louis University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Saint Louis University is located in Saint Louis, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 masters’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SLU, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Saint Louis University are $22,074, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Saint Louis University

#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 Getting Aid 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. Average graduate tuition and fees at MBU are $10,256, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at MBU

#18

Southwestern College

Winfield, Kansas
#11 in overall quality

Southwestern College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Southwestern College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Winfield, Kansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree criminal justice students with aid list, SC has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Southwestern College are $12,174, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at SC

#20

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 Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #20. UST MN is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 7 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UST MN, the school also landed the #2 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 St Thomas Minnesota are $24,814, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at UST MN

#21

Mount Mercy University

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Mount Mercy University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #21. Mount Mercy is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It awarded 20 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Mount Mercy did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 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 Mount Mercy are $10,870.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Mount Mercy

#22

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 Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #22. Located in Davenport, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 14 degrees to qualified masters’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree criminal justice students with aid list, St. Ambrose University has also earned the #9 rank 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.

Full St. Ambrose University Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#23

Columbia College

Columbia, Missouri

With a ranking of #23, Columbia College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Columbia College Missouri is a private not-for-profit institution located in Columbia, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 25 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Columbia College Missouri did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 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 Columbia College Missouri are $8,584.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Columbia College

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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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