2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools in Minnesota
[Criminal Justice & Police Science](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/criminal-justice-and-police-science/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 20 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value criminal justice & police science schools.
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2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools in Minnesota
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the criminal justice & police science degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools
Riverland Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools in Minnesota. Riverland Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Austin. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,297. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $15,732. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Riverland Community College generally make around $49,194. That is a strong return on a $15,732 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes North Hennepin Community College one of the best values for criminal justice & police science. Set in the suburb of Brooklyn Park, North Hennepin Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,061 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $30,250 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $53,797. Set against $30,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice & police science will find it at Century College, which ranked #3. Century College is a large public school located in the suburb of White Bear Lake. In-state tuition and fees average $6,214. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $19,366 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Century College generally make around $54,174. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College one of the best values for criminal justice & police science. Located in the town of Hibbing, Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,022. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $25,125. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College generally make around $56,757. That is a strong return on a $25,125 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Inver Hills Community College one of the best values for criminal justice & police science. Inver Hills Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Inver Grove Heights. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,146. Students borrow a median of $23,690 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Inver Hills Community College generally make around $52,724. That is a strong return on a $23,690 median debt.
Fond Du Lac Tribal And Community College landed the #6 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Located in the town of Cloquet, Fond Du Lac Tribal And Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,006. Students borrow a median of $15,665 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Fond Du Lac Tribal And Community College generally make around $51,144. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hennepin Technical College earned the #7 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park, Hennepin Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,940. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $19,854. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Hennepin Technical College generally make around $56,699. That is a strong return on a $19,854 median debt.
Ridgewater College landed the #8 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Located in the town of Willmar, Ridgewater College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,121. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $15,556 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Ridgewater College generally make around $49,040. Set against $15,556 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Normandale Community College landed the #9 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Normandale Community College is a large public school located in the city of Bloomington. In-state tuition and fees average $6,329. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $12,891. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $53,871. That is a strong return on a $12,891 median debt.
Minnesota West Community And Technical College came in at #10 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Minnesota West Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Granite Falls. In-state tuition and fees average $6,491. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $13,946. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Minnesota West Community And Technical College generally make around $43,009. Set against $13,946 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Lakes College Brainerd placed #11 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Located in the town of Brainerd, Central Lakes College Brainerd is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,249. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $14,479. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $44,264. Set against $14,479 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rochester Community And Technical College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Rochester Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Rochester. Students from in state pay about $6,389 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $14,470. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $50,418. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northland Community And Technical College earned the #13 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Northland Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Thief River Falls. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,289. Students borrow a median of $12,138 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $47,216. That is a strong return on a $12,138 median debt.
Minneapolis Community And Technical College came in at #14 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Minneapolis Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,161. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $30,000. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Minneapolis Community And Technical College generally make around $50,959. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Alexandria Technical And Community College placed #15 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Set in the town of Alexandria, Alexandria Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,236. Students borrow a median of $15,400 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Alexandria Technical And Community College earn a median of $50,433 early in their careers. Set against $15,400 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Minnesota State University Mankato came in at #16 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,572 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,942 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Minnesota State University Mankato generally make around $49,019. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Rasmussen College Minnesota ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Rasmussen College Minnesota is a large private for-profit school located in the city of St. Cloud. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,199. Students borrow a median of $30,710 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Rasmussen College Minnesota generally make around $51,300. Set against $30,710 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Metropolitan State University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Metropolitan State University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,840. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $31,213. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $52,125. Set against $31,213 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Metropolitan State University admits about 99% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, 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 12 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.
