2027 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in Iowa
[Criminal Justice & Corrections](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 21 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for criminal justice & corrections students.
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2027 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in Iowa
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in criminal justice & corrections, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools
Western Iowa Tech Community College earned the #1 spot for value among criminal justice & corrections schools in Iowa. Set in the city of Sioux City, Western Iowa Tech Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,186 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,330 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,500 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Western Iowa Tech Community College earn a median of $43,547 early in their careers. Set against $11,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes Hawkeye Community College one of the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Located in the rural area of Waterloo, Hawkeye Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,525, compared with $6,612 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Hawkeye Community College earn a median of $49,572 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Iowa Central Community College earned it the #3 place for criminal justice & corrections. Located in the town of Fort Dodge, Iowa Central Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,496, compared with $7,788 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,473 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Iowa Central Community College generally make around $39,121. That is a strong return on a $14,473 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice & corrections will find it at Des Moines Area Community College, which ranked #4. Set in the suburb of Ankeny, Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,790, compared with $6,690 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $12,000. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Des Moines Area Community College generally make around $42,555. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes Kirkwood Community College one of the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Kirkwood Community College is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Rapids. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,176, with out-of-state students paying around $8,220. Students borrow a median of $15,779 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Kirkwood Community College earn a median of $41,681 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,779 median debt.
Indian Hills Community College came in at #6 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the town of Ottumwa, Indian Hills Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,040 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,120. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $15,390. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $49,626. Set against $15,390 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Northern Iowa landed the #7 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. University Of Northern Iowa is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Falls. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,936, with out-of-state students paying around $21,712. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $43,748. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Iowa State University placed #8 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Iowa State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ames. In-state tuition and fees average $10,787, while out-of-state students pay about $28,881. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Iowa State University earn a median of $41,624 early in their careers. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Iowa State University admits about 89% of applicants.
Eastern Iowa Community College District earned the #9 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Eastern Iowa Community College District is a large public school located in the city of Davenport. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,848, compared with $6,456 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $15,995. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $41,510. That is a strong return on a $15,995 median debt.
Iowa Western Community College came in at #10 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the suburb of Council Bluffs, Iowa Western Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,930, while out-of-state students pay about $7,080. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $15,153 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Iowa Western Community College earn a median of $43,444 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Graceland University Lamoni ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Graceland University Lamoni is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Lamoni. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $19,848. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $27,509. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $63,443. Set against $27,509 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Coe College placed #12 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Coe College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cedar Rapids. Students from in state pay about $54,666 in tuition and fees. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $26,900 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Coe College generally make around $44,511. That is a strong return on a $26,900 median debt. The acceptance rate is 64%.
Waldorf College landed the #13 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Set in the rural area of Forest City, Waldorf College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $25,978. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $27,000. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Waldorf College earn a median of $42,735 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Buena Vista University landed the #14 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Buena Vista University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Storm Lake. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,798. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Buena Vista University earn a median of $37,641 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Mount Mercy University earned the #15 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the city of Cedar Rapids, Mount Mercy University is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,878. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Mount Mercy University generally make around $48,841. Set against $25,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Loras College earned the #16 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the city of Dubuque, Loras College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $39,824. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $27,000. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Loras College earn a median of $47,413 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Loras College admits about 100% of applicants.
Grand View University landed the #17 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Set in the city of Des Moines, Grand View University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,762. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $26,485 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Grand View University earn a median of $45,175 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Grand View University admits about 99% of applicants.
Simpson College landed the #18 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Set in the town of Indianola, Simpson College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $47,656. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $27,000. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Simpson College earn a median of $42,862 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Dubuque came in at #19 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. University Of Dubuque is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Dubuque. Students from in state pay about $42,095 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from University Of Dubuque generally make around $46,307. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Dubuque admits about 89% of applicants.
Saint Ambrose University landed the #20 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Saint Ambrose University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Davenport. Students from in state pay about $36,658 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,528 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Saint Ambrose University earn a median of $43,579 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,528 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Morningside College ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Morningside College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Sioux City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,519. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $27,281. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $54,988. That is a strong return on a $27,281 median debt. Morningside College admits about 71% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 21 ranked schools only.
- 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.
