2027 Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the The Plains States Region
Criminal Justice & Corrections is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 111 schools to find the best for criminal justice & corrections students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Criminal Justice & Corrections in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall criminal justice & corrections education in the The Plains States Region.
Top Schools in Criminal Justice & Corrections
Iowa State University tops our 2027 ranking of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Ames. About 75% of students finish within six years. About 84 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Iowa State University in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Iowa State University earn a median of $41,624 early in their careers. Iowa State University graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Iowa State University
Saint Louis University Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice & corrections, ranking #2. Located in the city of Saint Louis, Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit university. About 80% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 37 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Saint Louis University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Saint Louis University Main Campus generally make around $45,709. Students borrow a median of $23,694 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Saint Louis University Main Campus
University Of Northern Iowa is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & corrections, landing the #3 spot this year. This large public university is located in the city of Cedar Falls. About 68% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 26 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at University Of Northern Iowa in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from University Of Northern Iowa earn around $43,748 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Northern Iowa graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at University Of Northern Iowa
Minnesota State University Mankato came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public school located in the city of Mankato. Minnesota State University Mankato graduates 54% of students within six years. Minnesota State University Mankato awarded about 84 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Minnesota State University Mankato earn around $49,019 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Minnesota State University Mankato
University Of North Dakota is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & corrections, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Grand Forks, University Of North Dakota is a large public institution. About 60% of students finish within six years. About 54 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at University Of North Dakota in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from University Of North Dakota generally make around $42,825. Typical student debt for the program is $19,875.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for University Of North Dakota
Rockhurst University placed #6 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the city of Kansas City, Rockhurst University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Rockhurst University graduates 74% of students within six years. There were roughly 15 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Rockhurst University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Rockhurst University earn around $70,849 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,111 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Rockhurst University
Western Iowa Tech Community College came in at #7 for criminal justice & corrections this year. Western Iowa Tech Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Sioux City. There were roughly 27 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Western Iowa Tech Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Western Iowa Tech Community College generally make around $43,547. Western Iowa Tech Community College graduates carry a median of $11,500 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at Western Iowa Tech Community College
Saint Cloud State University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Saint Cloud State University is a large public school located in the city of Saint Cloud. Roughly 39% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 34 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Saint Cloud State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Saint Cloud State University earn around $49,412 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,500.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Saint Cloud State University
Missouri State University Springfield earned the #9 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Springfield. About 58% of students finish within six years. Missouri State University Springfield awarded about 54 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $46,503 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,408.
Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at Missouri State University Springfield
Park University came in at #10 for criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the suburb of Parkville, Park University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 37% of students complete a degree within six years here. Park University awarded about 103 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Park University generally make around $49,305. Typical student debt for the program is $18,299.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Park University
University Of Nebraska At Omaha ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. This large public university is located in the city of Omaha. University Of Nebraska At Omaha graduates 49% of students within six years. University Of Nebraska At Omaha awarded about 270 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from University Of Nebraska At Omaha generally make around $45,897. Students borrow a median of $22,561 to complete this degree.
Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for University Of Nebraska At Omaha
Winona State University placed #12 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the town of Winona, Winona State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Winona State University graduates 56% of students within six years. About 24 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Winona State University in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Winona State University earn a median of $48,861 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,012 to complete this degree.
Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for Winona State University
Central Community College landed the #13 spot for criminal justice & corrections this year. This large public university is located in the city of Grand Island. Central Community College awarded about 204 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Central Community College earn a median of $43,218 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $10,277.
Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for Central Community College
Southeast Technical Institute landed the #14 spot for criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the city of Sioux Falls, Southeast Technical Institute is a mid-sized public institution. Southeast Technical Institute awarded about 13 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Southeast Technical Institute earn around $49,560 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Southeast Technical Institute
Saint Marys University Of Minnesota earned the #15 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Winona. Saint Marys University Of Minnesota graduates 66% of students within six years. There were roughly 23 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Saint Marys University Of Minnesota in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $64,894 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $28,708.
Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for Saint Marys University Of Minnesota
Normandale Community College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the city of Bloomington, Normandale Community College is a large public university. Normandale Community College awarded about 26 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Normandale Community College earn around $53,871 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,891.
Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at Normandale Community College
Hawkeye Community College earned the #17 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the rural area of Waterloo. There were roughly 22 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Hawkeye Community College in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Hawkeye Community College earn a median of $49,572 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,000.
Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at Hawkeye Community College
Des Moines Area Community College placed #18 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Ankeny. There were roughly 67 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Des Moines Area Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Des Moines Area Community College generally make around $42,555. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Des Moines Area Community College
Bemidji State University landed the #19 spot for criminal justice & corrections this year. Bemidji State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Bemidji. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 30 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Bemidji State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Bemidji State University earn around $49,617 in the first couple years of their career. Bemidji State University graduates carry a median of $23,181 in student loans.
Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for Bemidji State University
Coe College landed the #20 spot for criminal justice & corrections this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cedar Rapids. About 66% of students finish within six years. Coe College awarded about 11 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Coe College generally make around $44,511. Coe College graduates carry a median of $26,900 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Coe College
North Dakota State University Main Campus landed the #21 spot for criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the city of Fargo, North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. There were roughly 50 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at North Dakota State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of North Dakota State University Main Campus earn a median of $38,057 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,125.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for North Dakota State University Main Campus
University Of South Dakota landed the #22 spot for criminal justice & corrections this year. University Of South Dakota is a large public school located in the town of Vermillion. University Of South Dakota graduates 60% of students within six years. About 47 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at University Of South Dakota in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $40,402 in their early career. University Of South Dakota graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from University Of South Dakota
University Of Mary ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. University Of Mary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Bismarck. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. About 13 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at University Of Mary in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $65,565 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,983 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from University Of Mary
Alexandria Technical And Community College landed the #24 spot for criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the town of Alexandria, Alexandria Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Alexandria Technical And Community College awarded about 144 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $50,433 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,400 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at Alexandria Technical And Community College
Metropolitan State University placed #25 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Metropolitan State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Saint Paul. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 79 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Metropolitan State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $52,125 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $31,213.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Metropolitan State University
Rest of the Top 50 Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s criminal justice & corrections ranking:
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 111 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.
