2027 Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in Iowa
Criminal Justice & Corrections programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their criminal justice & corrections programs.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 21 schools to find the best for criminal justice & corrections students.
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Best Schools for Criminal Justice & Corrections in Iowa
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the criminal justice & corrections degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Criminal Justice & Corrections
Iowa State University tops our 2027 ranking of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. There were roughly 84 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Iowa State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $41,624 in their early career. Iowa State University graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for Iowa State University
University Of Northern Iowa is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & corrections, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. University Of Northern Iowa awarded about 26 criminal justice & corrections degrees 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. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree.
Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for University Of Northern Iowa
Students looking for a strong criminal justice & corrections program will find one at Western Iowa Tech Community College, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Sioux City, Western Iowa Tech Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. 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. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Western Iowa Tech Community College earn around $43,547 in the first couple years of their career. Western Iowa Tech Community College graduates carry a median of $11,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Western Iowa Tech Community College
Hawkeye Community College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & corrections, landing the #4 spot 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. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $49,572 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Hawkeye Community College
Des Moines Area Community College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & corrections, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Ankeny, Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public institution. 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. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $42,555 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000.
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Coe College placed #6 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cedar Rapids. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 11 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Coe College 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.
Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at Coe College
Saint Ambrose University placed #7 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Saint Ambrose University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Davenport. About 61% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 15 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Saint Ambrose University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Saint Ambrose University earn around $43,579 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,528.
Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at Saint Ambrose University
Morningside College placed #8 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Sioux City. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. Morningside College awarded about 10 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Morningside College earn a median of $54,988 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,281.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Morningside College
Grand View University placed #9 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the city of Des Moines, Grand View University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Grand View University graduates 54% of students within six years. About 18 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Grand View University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Grand View University generally make around $45,175. Students borrow a median of $26,485 to complete this degree.
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Loras College placed #10 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Loras College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Dubuque. Loras College graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 11 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Loras College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Loras College generally make around $47,413. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Loras College
Waldorf College earned the #11 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the rural area of Forest City, Waldorf College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 24%. Waldorf College awarded about 33 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Waldorf College generally make around $42,735. Waldorf College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at Waldorf College
University Of Dubuque ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the city of Dubuque, University Of Dubuque is a small private not-for-profit university. About 40% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 19 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at University Of Dubuque in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $46,307 in their early career. University Of Dubuque graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for University Of Dubuque
Graceland University Lamoni placed #13 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the rural area of Lamoni, Graceland University Lamoni is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 42% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 14 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Graceland University Lamoni in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $63,443 in their early career. Graceland University Lamoni graduates carry a median of $27,509 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice & corrections program at Graceland University Lamoni
Iowa Central Community College came in at #14 for criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the town of Fort Dodge, Iowa Central Community College is a moderately-sized public university. About 32 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Iowa Central Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Iowa Central Community College earn around $39,121 in the first couple years of their career. Iowa Central Community College graduates carry a median of $14,473 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Iowa Central Community College
Simpson College came in at #15 for criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the town of Indianola, Simpson College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. There were roughly 17 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Simpson College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & corrections degree from Simpson College earn around $42,862 in the first couple years of their career. Simpson College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Simpson College
Indian Hills Community College placed #16 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Indian Hills Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Ottumwa. Indian Hills Community College awarded about 16 criminal justice & corrections degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Indian Hills Community College earn a median of $49,626 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,390 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Indian Hills Community College
Iowa Western Community College placed #17 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the suburb of Council Bluffs, Iowa Western Community College is a large public university. About 18 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Iowa Western Community College in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Iowa Western Community College earn a median of $43,444 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,153 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Iowa Western Community College
Mount Mercy University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the city of Cedar Rapids, Mount Mercy University is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. There were roughly 10 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Mount Mercy University in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Mount Mercy University earn a median of $48,841 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,500.
Get the full criminal justice & corrections details for Mount Mercy University
Eastern Iowa Community College District earned the #19 position for criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the city of Davenport, Eastern Iowa Community College District is a large public university. There were roughly 20 criminal justice & corrections students who graduated with this degree at Eastern Iowa Community College District in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Eastern Iowa Community College District earn a median of $41,510 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,995.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Eastern Iowa Community College District
Kirkwood Community College landed the #20 spot for criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the city of Cedar Rapids, Kirkwood Community College is a large public university. About 17 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Kirkwood Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Kirkwood Community College generally make around $41,681. Kirkwood Community College graduates carry a median of $15,779 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice & corrections program report for Kirkwood Community College
Buena Vista University placed #21 among the best criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the town of Storm Lake, Buena Vista University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Buena Vista University graduates 62% of students within six years. About 17 criminal justice & corrections degrees were awarded at Buena Vista University in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & corrections program make about $37,641 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & corrections from Buena Vista University
More Criminal Justice & Corrections Rankings
View All Criminal Justice & Corrections Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 21 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.
