2027 Best Criminology Schools in the The Plains States Region
Criminology is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their criminology programs.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 20 schools to find the best for criminology students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Criminology in the The Plains States Region
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 criminology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Criminology
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in criminology. Located in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public university. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 114 criminology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $41,780 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminology from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
University Of Iowa came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best criminology schools. University Of Iowa is a very large public school located in the city of Iowa City. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. University Of Iowa awarded about 77 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from University Of Iowa generally make around $38,520. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
Get the full criminology details for University Of Iowa
University Of Minnesota Duluth came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best criminology schools. University Of Minnesota Duluth is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Duluth. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 51 criminology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Minnesota Duluth in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminology degree from University Of Minnesota Duluth earn around $42,562 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Minnesota Duluth graduates carry a median of $23,887 in student loans.
Get the full criminology details for University Of Minnesota Duluth
University Of St Thomas Minnesota came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best criminology schools. University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. University Of St Thomas Minnesota graduates 77% of students within six years. University Of St Thomas Minnesota awarded about 19 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Criminology graduates of University Of St Thomas Minnesota earn a median of $41,780 early in their careers. University Of St Thomas Minnesota graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full criminology program report for University Of St Thomas Minnesota
University Of Missouri Kansas City came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best criminology schools. Set in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public institution. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 50 criminology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Missouri Kansas City in the most recent data year. Criminology graduates of University Of Missouri Kansas City earn a median of $60,324 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,741 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminology program at University Of Missouri Kansas City
Maryville University Of Saint Louis placed #6 among the best criminology schools. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. There were roughly 15 criminology students who graduated with this degree at Maryville University Of Saint Louis in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminology degree from Maryville University Of Saint Louis earn around $67,909 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,499 to complete this degree.
See the full criminology program report for Maryville University Of Saint Louis
University Of Northern Iowa placed #7 among the best criminology schools. University Of Northern Iowa is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Falls. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. About 33 criminology degrees were awarded at University Of Northern Iowa in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminology degree from University Of Northern Iowa earn around $43,914 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Northern Iowa graduates carry a median of $24,683 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminology from University Of Northern Iowa
Benedictine College landed the #8 spot for criminology this year. Benedictine College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Atchison. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. There were roughly 13 criminology students who graduated with this degree at Benedictine College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminology degree from Benedictine College earn around $46,255 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,990.
Read more about the criminology program at Benedictine College
University Of Missouri St Louis placed #9 among the best criminology schools. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, University Of Missouri St Louis is a large public university. About 57% of students finish within six years. About 65 criminology degrees were awarded at University Of Missouri St Louis in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $38,207 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,801.
See the full criminology program report for University Of Missouri St Louis
Hamline University earned the #10 position for criminology this year. Set in the city of Saint Paul, Hamline University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 60% of students finish within six years. About 30 criminology degrees were awarded at Hamline University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Hamline University generally make around $41,204. Hamline University graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans.
See the full criminology program report for Hamline University
Tabor College earned the #11 position for criminology this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Hillsboro. Tabor College graduates 34% of students within six years. Tabor College awarded about 12 criminology degrees in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in criminology from Tabor College
Kansas State University earned the #12 position for criminology this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Manhattan. Kansas State University graduates 71% of students within six years. Kansas State University awarded about 10 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Criminology graduates of Kansas State University earn a median of $51,543 early in their careers. Kansas State University graduates carry a median of $23,546 in student loans.
See the full criminology program report for Kansas State University
Missouri State University Springfield came in at #13 for criminology this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Springfield. About 58% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 147 criminology students who graduated with this degree at Missouri State University Springfield in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Missouri State University Springfield generally make around $38,966. Missouri State University Springfield graduates carry a median of $24,187 in student loans.
Get the full criminology details for Missouri State University Springfield
Avila University came in at #14 for criminology this year. Located in the city of Kansas City, Avila University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. About 11 criminology degrees were awarded at Avila University in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminology degree from Avila University earn around $51,234 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $29,750 to complete this degree.
See the full criminology program report for Avila University
South Dakota State University landed the #15 spot for criminology this year. South Dakota State University is a large public school located in the town of Brookings. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. South Dakota State University awarded about 15 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from South Dakota State University generally make around $51,260. Students borrow a median of $24,989 to complete this degree.
Get the full criminology details for South Dakota State University
Lindenwood University came in at #16 for criminology this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Saint Charles. Lindenwood University graduates 49% of students within six years. Lindenwood University awarded about 12 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminology degree from Lindenwood University earn around $47,448 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $28,663 to complete this degree.
Get the full criminology details for Lindenwood University
Upper Iowa University ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best criminology schools. Located in the rural area of Fayette, Upper Iowa University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 33% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 39 criminology degrees were awarded at Upper Iowa University in the most recent year. Criminology graduates of Upper Iowa University earn a median of $43,170 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $43,447 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminology program at Upper Iowa University
William Penn University earned the #18 position for criminology this year. Located in the town of Oskaloosa, William Penn University is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 33%. About 10 criminology degrees were awarded at William Penn University in the most recent year. Criminology graduates of William Penn University earn a median of $39,727 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $28,341.
Get the full criminology details for William Penn University
University Of Saint Mary placed #19 among the best criminology schools. Located in the town of Leavenworth, University Of Saint Mary is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 48%. About 16 criminology degrees were awarded at University Of Saint Mary in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $42,633 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,474.
Read more about the criminology program at University Of Saint Mary
Northwest Missouri State University placed #20 among the best criminology schools. This large public university is located in the town of Maryville. About 54% of students finish within six years. About 19 criminology degrees were awarded at Northwest Missouri State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Northwest Missouri State University generally make around $42,939. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
More information about a degree in criminology from Northwest Missouri State University
Narrow Criminology Schools by State
More Criminology Rankings
View All Criminology Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 20 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.