2027 Best Value Criminology Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Criminology](/majors/social-sciences/criminology/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 20 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value criminology schools.
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2027 Best Value Criminology Schools in the The Plains States Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the criminology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Criminology Schools
University Of Missouri Kansas City tops our 2027 list of the best value criminology schools in the The Plains States Region. University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public school located in the city of Kansas City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,371, while out-of-state students pay about $32,271. Criminology graduates carry a median of $23,741 in student loans. Early-career criminology graduates make about $60,324. Set against $23,741 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Students looking for strong value in criminology will find it at University Of Missouri St Louis, which ranked #2. University Of Missouri St Louis is a large public school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,120, compared with $37,620 for out-of-state students. Criminology graduates carry a median of $22,801 in student loans. Early-career criminology graduates make about $38,207. That is a strong return on a $22,801 median debt. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earned it the #3 place for criminology. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,214, while out-of-state students pay about $38,362. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $20,500. Early-career criminology graduates make about $41,780. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Northern Iowa came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value criminology schools. Located in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,936, with out-of-state students paying around $21,712. Criminology graduates carry a median of $24,683 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from University Of Northern Iowa generally make around $43,914. That is a strong return on a $24,683 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Avila University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value criminology schools. Located in the city of Kansas City, Avila University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,200. Students borrow a median of $29,750 to complete the criminology program here. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Avila University generally make around $51,234. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Minnesota Duluth earned the #6 position for value in criminology this year. University Of Minnesota Duluth is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Duluth. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,608, with out-of-state students paying around $20,134. Students borrow a median of $23,887 to complete the criminology program here. Early-career criminology graduates make about $42,562. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Missouri State University Springfield placed #7 among the best values for criminology. Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public school located in the city of Springfield. In-state tuition and fees average $9,502, with out-of-state students paying around $18,770. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $24,187. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Missouri State University Springfield generally make around $38,966. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Northwest Missouri State University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value criminology schools. Northwest Missouri State University is a large public school located in the town of Maryville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,611, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the criminology program here. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Northwest Missouri State University generally make around $42,939. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northwest Missouri State University admits about 86% of applicants.
Kansas State University placed #9 among the best values for criminology. Kansas State University is a very large public school located in the city of Manhattan. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,221, with out-of-state students paying around $28,568. Criminology graduates carry a median of $23,546 in student loans. Early-career criminology graduates make about $51,543. Set against $23,546 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Lindenwood University placed #10 among the best values for criminology. Located in the city of Saint Charles, Lindenwood University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $21,600. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $28,663. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Lindenwood University generally make around $47,448. Set against $28,663 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Lindenwood University admits about 57% of applicants.
South Dakota State University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value criminology schools. Set in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,299, while out-of-state students pay about $12,809. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $24,989. Criminology graduates of South Dakota State University earn a median of $51,260 early in their careers. Set against $24,989 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Tabor College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value criminology schools. Tabor College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Hillsboro. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $36,200. Graduates go on to earn a median of $54,058 ten years after entry. Tabor College admits about 65% of applicants.
Hamline University earned the #13 position for value in criminology this year. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Hamline University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $50,004 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,500 to complete the criminology program here. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Hamline University generally make around $41,204. That is a strong return on a $26,500 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Maryville University Of Saint Louis came in at #14 for value in criminology this year. Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,166. Students borrow a median of $24,499 to complete the criminology program here. Criminology graduates of Maryville University Of Saint Louis earn a median of $67,909 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Upper Iowa University earned the #15 position for value in criminology this year. Located in the rural area of Fayette, Upper Iowa University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $19,475. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $43,447. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Upper Iowa University generally make around $43,170. Set against $43,447 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
University Of Iowa earned the #16 position for value in criminology this year. Located in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,283 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $33,371. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the criminology program here. Early-career criminology graduates make about $38,520. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Saint Mary ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value criminology schools. Set in the town of Leavenworth, University Of Saint Mary is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $35,380. Criminology graduates carry a median of $25,474 in student loans. Criminology graduates of University Of Saint Mary earn a median of $42,633 early in their careers. Set against $25,474 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
William Penn University earned the #18 position for value in criminology this year. William Penn University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Oskaloosa. Students from in state pay about $29,750 in tuition and fees. Criminology graduates carry a median of $28,341 in student loans. Early-career criminology graduates make about $39,727. Set against $28,341 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. William Penn University admits about 52% of applicants.
Benedictine College landed the #19 spot for criminology value this year. Located in the town of Atchison, Benedictine College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $36,350. Students borrow a median of $24,990 to complete the criminology program here. Criminology graduates of Benedictine College earn a median of $46,255 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,990 median debt. The acceptance rate is 98%.
University Of St Thomas Minnesota landed the #20 spot for criminology value this year. Set in the city of Saint Paul, University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $54,398 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $27,000. Criminology graduates of University Of St Thomas Minnesota earn a median of $41,780 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 20 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 20 ranked schools only.
- 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.
