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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Criminology (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region

17 Ranked Colleges
769 Degrees Awarded
$15,700 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2019-2020, 10,182 people earned their degree in criminology, making the major the 82nd most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, criminology graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $32,583 and had an average of $24,397 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Plains States region, there were 843 criminology graduates with average earnings and debt of $35,200 and $24,586 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.

For this year’s “Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 17 colleges that offer a degree 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.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the criminology program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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 for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” list to help you make the college decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region bachelor’s degree criminology students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 17 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Criminology (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region

#1

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 120 bachelors’s criminology degrees to qualified students.

UMN Twin Cities did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Criminology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is $8,418 for plains states region bachelor’s degree criminology students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Criminology at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This fairly large school is located in Duluth, Minnesota, and it awarded 62 bachelors’s criminology degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Duluth did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Criminology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth is $7,992 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Criminology students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Minnesota - Duluth Criminology Report

#3

University of Missouri - St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri

Out of the 17 schools in the Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Missouri - St Louis landed the #3 spot on the list. UMSL is a public institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 86 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UMSL also took the #13 spot in our “Best Criminology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $6,838 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Criminology students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Missouri - St Louis.

Full UMSL Criminology Report

#4

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Northern Iowa. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. University of Northern Iowa is a medium-sized school located in Cedar Falls, Iowa that handed out 50 bachelors’s criminology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree criminology students whose families make $30-$48k list, UNI has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Criminology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UNI is $12,495 for plains states region bachelor’s degree criminology students whose families make $30-$48k.

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.

Read more about Criminology at University of Northern Iowa

#16 in overall quality

Out of the 17 schools in the Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwest Missouri State University landed the #5 spot on the list. Northwest Missouri State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Maryville, Missouri. It awarded 18 bachelors’s criminology degrees in 2019-2020.

Northwest not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Criminology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $9,863 for plains states region bachelor’s degree criminology students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Northwest.

Read more about Criminology at Northwest

Missouri State University - Springfield came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Missouri State is a large public school situated in Springfield, Missouri. It awarded 108 bachelors’s criminology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree criminology students whose families make $30-$48k list, Missouri State has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Criminology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $13,488 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Criminology students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Missouri State University - Springfield.

Read more about Criminology at Missouri State

#7

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa
#6 in overall quality

University of Iowa ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Iowa City, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s criminology degrees to 95 students in 2019-2020.

Iowa did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Criminology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Iowa is $15,073 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Criminology students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.5% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.

Full University of Iowa Criminology Report

#8

Hamline University

Saint Paul, Minnesota

Hamline University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #8. Hamline is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 38 bachelors’s criminology degrees to qualified students.

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. It costs about $18,298 for plains states region bachelor’s degree criminology students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Hamline University.

The low student loan default rate of 3.3% 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 Hamline

#9

Hastings College

Hastings, Nebraska
#9 in overall quality

Hastings College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #9. This small school is located in Hastings, Nebraska, and it awarded 5 bachelors’s criminology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Hastings, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Criminology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Hastings College is $20,122 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Criminology students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Criminology at Hastings

#10

Maryville University of Saint Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri

With a ranking of #10, Maryville University of Saint Louis did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 12 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s criminology 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. The estimated yearly cost for Maryville University of Saint Louis is $21,790 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Criminology students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Maryville University of Saint Louis Criminology Report

#11

Drury University

Springfield, Missouri
#17 in overall quality

Drury University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #11. Drury University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Springfield, Missouri. It awarded 12 bachelors’s criminology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Drury University, the school also landed 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 $16,294 for plains states region bachelor’s degree criminology students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Criminology at Drury University

#12

Avila University

Kansas City, Missouri

Avila University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Kansas City, Missouri, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 13 degrees to qualified bachelors’s criminology students in 2019-2020.

Avila also took the #15 spot in our “Best Criminology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $15,053 for plains states region bachelor’s degree criminology students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Avila University.

Read full report on Criminology at Avila

#13

University of Saint Mary

Leavenworth, Kansas

University of Saint Mary ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Saint Mary is a private not-for-profit institution located in Leavenworth, Kansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 13 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

University of St. Mary did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Criminology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $18,122 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Criminology students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of St. Mary.

Full University of St. Mary Criminology Report

#14

Webster University

Saint Louis, Missouri
#8 in overall quality

Webster University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Webster is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 15 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree criminology students whose families make $30-$48k list, Webster has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Criminology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Webster is $20,081 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Criminology students whose families make $30-$48k.

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 full report on Criminology at Webster

#15

Upper Iowa University

Fayette, Iowa

With a ranking of #15, Upper Iowa University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UIU is a small school located in Fayette, Iowa that handed out 54 bachelors’s criminology degrees in 2019-2020.

UIU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Criminology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Upper Iowa University is $17,928 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Criminology students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full UIU Criminology Report

#16

Benedictine College

Atchison, Kansas

Benedictine College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Benedictine College is located in Atchison, Kansas and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 9 bachelors’s criminology degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree criminology students whose families make $30-$48k list, Benedictine College has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Criminology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Benedictine College is $18,932 for plains states region bachelor’s degree criminology students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Benedictine College Criminology Report

#17

University of St Thomas Minnesota

Saint Paul, Minnesota

University of St Thomas Minnesota ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Criminology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of St Thomas Minnesota is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 21 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UST MN not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Criminology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $26,365 for plains states region bachelor’s degree criminology students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of St Thomas Minnesota.

The low student loan default rate of 2.1% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Criminology at University of St Thomas Minnesota

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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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