2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
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” ranking, we looked at 24 colleges that offer a degree in criminal justice and corrections. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent criminal justice and corrections programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the criminal justice and corrections program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
Featured schools near , edit
More Ways to Rank Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools
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” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.
Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region.
Top 24 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice & Corrections in the Plains States Region
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Simpson College. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region 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. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Simpson College are $8,868.
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 list. Minnesota State University - Mankato is a fairly large public school situated in Mankato, Minnesota. It awarded 1 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.
Minnesota State Mankato not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #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 you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full Minnesota State Mankato Criminal Justice & Corrections Report
Out of the 24 schools in the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Bellevue University landed the #3 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Bellevue, Nebraska, and it awarded 36 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Bellevue University, the school also landed the #4 spot 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 some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Bellevue University
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Walden University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region. Walden University is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 152 masters’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.
Walden University also took the #5 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 Walden University are $10,716.
Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Walden University
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend North Dakota State University - Main Campus. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region list. North Dakota State University is a fairly large public school situated in Fargo, North Dakota. 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 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 - 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
Capella University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Capella University is a private for-profit institution located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The school has a large population, and it awarded 79 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Capella University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. 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
With a ranking of #7, Concordia University, Saint Paul did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region list. This medium-sized school is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and it awarded 21 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Concordia University, Saint Paul, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Concordia University, Saint Paul are $8,550, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Concordia University, Saint Paul
Southwestern College 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 ranking. Located in Winfield, Kansas, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 1 degrees to qualified masters’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.
SC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 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 Southwestern College are $12,174.
Full Southwestern College Criminal Justice & Corrections Report
Missouri Southern State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #9. Located in Joplin, Missouri, this medium-sized public school handed out 7 diplomas to qualified masters’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Missouri Southern, the school also landed 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 you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Missouri Southern State University
With a ranking of #10, Saint Cloud State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region list. This fairly large school is located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota, and it awarded 9 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree criminal justice students list, St. Cloud State University has also earned the #13 rank 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.
Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at St. Cloud State University
Webster University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Saint Louis, Missouri, and 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 University are $13,500, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Columbia College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Columbia College Missouri is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Columbia, Missouri. It awarded 25 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.
Columbia College Missouri also made our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #21. Average graduate tuition and fees at Columbia College Missouri are $8,584, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Columbia College Missouri
Southeast Missouri State University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region list. Southeast Missouri State University is a public institution located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 11 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Southeast Missouri State University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 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 Southeast Missouri State University are $10,792.
Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Southeast Missouri State University
With a ranking of #14, Mount Mercy University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region list. Mount Mercy University is located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 20 masters’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.
Mount Mercy not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. 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 University
With a ranking of #15, Saint Louis University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region list. SLU is a fairly large school located in Saint Louis, Missouri that handed out 8 masters’s criminal justice degrees 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 SLU are $22,074, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Saint Louis University
University of Nebraska at Omaha did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #16. University of Nebraska at Omaha is a fairly large public school situated in Omaha, Nebraska. It awarded 24 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.
UNOMAHA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. 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 University of Nebraska at Omaha
With a ranking of #17, Saint Ambrose University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region list. This small school is located in Davenport, Iowa, and it awarded 14 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree criminal justice students 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 you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at St. Ambrose University
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 list. Missouri Baptist University is a small school located in Saint Louis, Missouri that handed out 5 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree criminal justice students list, MBU has also earned the #24 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at MBU are $10,256, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of Central Missouri ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region list. UCM is a medium-sized public school situated in Warrensburg, Missouri. It awarded 14 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.
UCM also took the #16 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 University of Central Missouri are $16,394.
University of St Thomas Minnesota ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region list. 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 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.
Wichita State University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region list. Wichita State University is located in Wichita, Kansas and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 17 masters’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at WSU, the school also landed 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 Wichita State University
Metropolitan State University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, this medium-sized public school awarded 1 diplomas to qualified masters’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Metro State, the school also landed 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 Metropolitan State University are $17,552, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Metro State
Washburn University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region list. Washburn University is located in Topeka, Kansas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 masters’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree criminal justice students list, Washburn University has also earned the #22 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 Washburn University are $19,206.
Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Washburn University
With a ranking of #24, 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 list. University of Missouri - Kansas City is a fairly large school located in Kansas City, Missouri that handed out 8 masters’s criminal justice degrees 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 some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at University of Missouri - Kansas City
Focus on a Specific Degree Level
All Degree Levels
Best Value Colleges for Criminal Justice & Corrections in the Plains States Region
Bachelors
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice & Corrections in the Plains States Region
Doctorate
Best Value Doctor's Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice & Corrections in the Plains States Region
Narrow Results by Region
Southeast
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice & Corrections in the Southeast Region
Rocky Mountains
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice & Corrections in the Rocky Mountains Region
Middle Atlantic
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice & Corrections in the Middle Atlantic Region
Southwest
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice & Corrections in the Southwest Region
New England
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice & Corrections in the New England Region
Plains States
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice & Corrections in the Plains States Region
Far Western US
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice & Corrections in the Far Western US Region
Great Lakes
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice & Corrections in the Great Lakes Region
Switch to a Different Ranking Method
Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region
Criminal Justice & Corrections students in the Plains States Region
Most Focused Master's Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice & Corrections in the Plains States Region
Criminal Justice & Corrections students in the Plains States Region
Most Popular Master's Degree Online Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools
Criminal Justice & Corrections students in the Plains States Region
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice & Corrections (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region
Criminal Justice & Corrections students with family income less than $30k in the Plains States Region
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice & Corrections (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region
Criminal Justice & Corrections students with family income $48-$75k in the Plains States Region
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice & Corrections (Income Over $110k) in the Plains States Region
Criminal Justice & Corrections students with family income exceeding $110k in the Plains States Region
Highest Paid Master's Degree Criminal Justice & Corrections Graduates in the Plains States Region
Criminal Justice & Corrections students in the Plains States Region
Most Popular Master's Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice & Corrections in the Plains States Region
Criminal Justice & Corrections students in the Plains States Region
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice & Corrections in the Plains States Region (With Aid)
Criminal Justice & Corrections students getting aid in the Plains States Region
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice & Corrections (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region
Criminal Justice & Corrections students with family income $30-$48k in the Plains States Region
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice & Corrections (Income $75-$110k) in the Plains States Region
Criminal Justice & Corrections students with family income $75-$110k in the Plains States Region
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice & Corrections in the Plains States Region
Criminal Justice & Corrections students in the Plains States Region
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.
Featured Criminal Justice Administration Schools
Request Info |
Southern New Hampshire University
You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs ... Learn More > |