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2023 Best Value Colleges for Criminology in the Plains States Region

13 Ranked Colleges
885 Degrees Awarded
$18,900 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Criminology Schools in the Plains States Region

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Criminology Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Criminology is the 76th most popular major in the country with 11,039 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.

Across the Plains States region, there were 885 criminology graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Criminology Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking looked at 13 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in criminology. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent criminology programs, but they also cost less that 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.

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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Criminology Schools in the Plains States Region” list to help you make the college 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. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Criminology Schools in the Plains States Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region criminology students.

Top 13 Best Value Colleges for Criminology in the Plains States Region

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Missouri State University - Springfield. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Criminology Schools in the Plains States Region list. Missouri State is a large school located in Springfield, Missouri that handed out 139 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.

Missouri State also took the #4 spot in our “Best Criminology Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Missouri State University - Springfield is $16,718 for plains states region criminology students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Missouri State University - Springfield Criminology Report

2

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Criminology Schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Duluth landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Duluth, Minnesota, this medium-sized public school handed out 46 diplomas to qualified ’s criminology students in 2020-2021.

UMN Duluth also made our “Best Criminology Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #3. It costs about $18,505 for plains states region criminology students per year to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Criminology at UMN Duluth

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Northern Iowa. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Criminology Schools in the Plains States Region. UNI is a public institution located in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 48 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

UNI did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Criminology Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Northern Iowa is $16,438 for plains states region criminology students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Criminology at University of Northern Iowa

4
Lindenwood University crest
Lindenwood University
Saint Charles, Missouri

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Lindenwood University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Criminology Schools in the Plains States Region list. Lindenwood University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Charles, Missouri. It awarded 9 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Lindenwood University, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Criminology Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Lindenwood University is $17,366 for plains states region criminology students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% 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%.

Full Lindenwood University Criminology Report

5

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Criminology Schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities landed the #5 spot on the list. This large school is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and it awarded 151 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.

UMN Twin Cities not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Criminology Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is $17,878 for Plains States Region Criminology students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Criminology Report

6

Northwest Missouri State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Criminology Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #6. Northwest is a medium-sized public school situated in Maryville, Missouri. It awarded 12 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.

Northwest also took the #13 spot in our “Best Criminology Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Northwest is $12,925 for plains states region criminology students.

Read full report on Criminology at Northwest Missouri State University

7
Iowa crest
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa

University of Iowa landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Criminology Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Iowa City, Iowa, this large public school awarded 97 degrees to qualified ’s criminology students in 2020-2021.

Iowa also made our “Best Criminology Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #2. It costs about $19,401 for plains states region criminology students per year to attend University of Iowa.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Iowa Criminology Report

8

University of Missouri - St Louis ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Criminology Schools in the Plains States Region list. University of Missouri - St Louis is a fairly large school located in Saint Louis, Missouri that handed out 107 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.

UMSL also made our “Best Criminology Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #6. The yearly cost to attend University of Missouri - St Louis is $12,232 for plains states region criminology students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.6% 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%.

Read more about Criminology at University of Missouri - St Louis

9

Upper Iowa University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Criminology Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #9. This small school is located in Fayette, Iowa, and it awarded 56 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIU, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Criminology Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $24,063 for Plains States Region Criminology students per year to attend Upper Iowa University.

Read full report on Criminology at UIU

10

University of Missouri - Kansas City landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Criminology Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. University of Missouri - Kansas City is a fairly large public school situated in Kansas City, Missouri. It awarded 58 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.

UMKC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Criminology Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Missouri - Kansas City is $15,702 for plains states region criminology students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Missouri - Kansas City Criminology Report

11
Webster crest
Webster University
Saint Louis, Missouri

Webster University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Criminology Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #11. Webster is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 14 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region criminology students list, Webster has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Criminology Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Webster is $23,248 for Plains States Region Criminology students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Criminology at Webster

12
Hamline crest
Hamline University
Saint Paul, Minnesota

Hamline University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Criminology Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #12. Hamline University is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 37 ’s criminology degrees to qualified students.

Hamline not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Criminology Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Hamline University is $20,474 for Plains States Region Criminology students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Hamline University Criminology Report

13

University of St Thomas Minnesota landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value Criminology Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. University of St Thomas Minnesota is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It awarded 17 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region criminology students list, UST MN has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Criminology Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of St Thomas Minnesota is $31,066 for plains states region criminology students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Criminology at UST MN

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Notes and References

References

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