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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Criminology in the Plains States Region

17 Ranked Colleges
769 Degrees Awarded
$19,600 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2019-2020, 10,182 people earned their degree in criminology, making the major the 79th most popular in the United States.

Across the Plains States region, there were 843 criminology graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 769 criminology graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,786 and $25,576 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region” ranking looked at 17 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in criminology. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality criminology programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the criminology program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The criminology school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region”.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. 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 Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region.

Top 17 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Criminology in the Plains States Region

#3 in overall quality

Out of the 17 schools in the Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Duluth landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Duluth, Minnesota, this fairly large public school awarded 62 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s criminology students in 2019-2020.

UMN Duluth also took the #3 spot in our “Best Criminology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $17,067 for plains states region bachelor’s degree criminology students per year to attend UMN Duluth.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Criminology at University of Minnesota - Duluth

#2

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa
#5 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Northern Iowa. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region. University of Northern Iowa is a medium-sized public school situated in Cedar Falls, Iowa. It awarded 50 bachelors’s criminology degrees in 2019-2020.

UNI not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Criminology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $15,620 for plains states region bachelor’s degree criminology students per year to attend University of Northern Iowa.

The low student loan default rate of 3.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full UNI Criminology Report

#11 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Missouri State University - Springfield. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. This large school is located in Springfield, Missouri, and it awarded 108 bachelors’s criminology degrees in 2019-2020.

Missouri State also took the #11 spot in our “Best Criminology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Missouri State University - Springfield is $16,725 for plains states region bachelor’s degree criminology students.

Read more about Criminology at Missouri State

#16 in overall quality

Out of the 17 schools in the Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwest Missouri State University landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Maryville, Missouri, this medium-sized public school awarded 18 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s criminology students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Northwest, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Criminology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Northwest is $12,354 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Criminology students.

Read full report on Criminology at Northwest

#5

Maryville University of Saint Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri
#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Maryville University of Saint Louis. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region. Saint Louis, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s criminology degrees to 12 students in 2019-2020.

Maryville U not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Criminology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $29,064 for plains states region bachelor’s degree criminology students per year to attend Maryville U.

The low student loan default rate of 2.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Criminology at Maryville University of Saint Louis

#6

Avila University

Kansas City, Missouri
#15 in overall quality

Avila University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Avila is a small school located in Kansas City, Missouri that handed out 13 bachelors’s criminology degrees in 2019-2020.

Avila did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Criminology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $17,048 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Criminology students per year to attend Avila.

Read more about Criminology at Avila

#7

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#2 in overall quality

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #7. UMN Twin Cities is a public institution located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The school has a large population, and it awarded 120 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree criminology students list, UMN Twin Cities has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Criminology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is $17,740 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Criminology students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

Full UMN Twin Cities Criminology Report

#8

University of Saint Mary

Leavenworth, Kansas
#10 in overall quality

University of Saint Mary ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Leavenworth, Kansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s criminology degrees to 13 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at University of St. Mary, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Criminology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $21,000 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Criminology students per year to attend University of Saint Mary.

Read full report on Criminology at University of Saint Mary

#9

Webster University

Saint Louis, Missouri
#8 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, Webster University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 15 degrees to qualified bachelors’s criminology students in 2019-2020.

Webster also took the #8 spot in our “Best Criminology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Webster is $22,768 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Criminology students.

The low student loan default rate of 4.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Criminology at Webster

#10

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa
#6 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, University of Iowa did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Iowa is a large school located in Iowa City, Iowa that handed out 95 bachelors’s criminology degrees in 2019-2020.

Iowa also made our “Best Criminology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #6. The yearly cost to attend University of Iowa is $19,145 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Criminology students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Iowa Criminology Report

#11

University of Missouri - St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri
#13 in overall quality

University of Missouri - St Louis ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. University of Missouri - St Louis is a fairly large school located in Saint Louis, Missouri that handed out 86 bachelors’s criminology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree criminology students list, UMSL has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Criminology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $9,435 for plains states region bachelor’s degree criminology students per year to attend UMSL.

Read more about Criminology at UMSL

#12

Benedictine College

Atchison, Kansas
#12 in overall quality

Benedictine College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #12. Benedictine College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Atchison, Kansas. It awarded 9 bachelors’s criminology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Benedictine College, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Criminology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $23,011 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Criminology students per year to attend Benedictine College.

The low student loan default rate of 3.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Criminology at Benedictine College

#13

Hastings College

Hastings, Nebraska
#9 in overall quality

Hastings College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. This small school is located in Hastings, Nebraska, and it awarded 5 bachelors’s criminology degrees in 2019-2020.

Hastings not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Criminology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Hastings is $21,670 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Criminology students.

Read full report on Criminology at Hastings College

#14

Upper Iowa University

Fayette, Iowa
#14 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, Upper Iowa University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Located in Fayette, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 54 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s criminology students in 2019-2020.

UIU also made our “Best Criminology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #14. The yearly cost to attend UIU is $21,624 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Criminology students.

Read more about Criminology at UIU

#15

Drury University

Springfield, Missouri
#17 in overall quality

Drury University landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Drury University is a small school located in Springfield, Missouri that handed out 12 bachelors’s criminology degrees in 2019-2020.

Drury University also took the #17 spot in our “Best Criminology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Drury University is $18,419 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Criminology students.

Read more about Criminology at Drury University

#16

Hamline University

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#7 in overall quality

Hamline University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Hamline University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 38 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Hamline did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Criminology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Hamline University is $20,866 for plains states region bachelor’s degree criminology students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Criminology at Hamline

#17

University of St Thomas Minnesota

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#4 in overall quality

University of St Thomas Minnesota did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #17. Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 21 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s criminology students in 2019-2020.

UST MN also made our “Best Criminology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #4. The yearly cost to attend University of St Thomas Minnesota is $29,155 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Criminology students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Criminology at UST MN

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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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