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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools in the The Plains States Region

23 Colleges in the United States
1,188 Criminal Justice & Police Science Degrees Awarded
$47,560 Avg Early-Career Salary

Criminal Justice & Police Science degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 69 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for criminal justice & police science students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Criminal Justice & Police Science in the The Plains States Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall criminal justice & police science education in the The Plains States Region.

Top Schools in Criminal Justice & Police Science

1

Minnesota State University Mankato tops our 2026 ranking of the best criminal justice & police science schools. Located in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public university. About 54% of students finish within six years. About 30 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Minnesota State University Mankato in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Minnesota State University Mankato earn a median of $49,019 early in their careers. Minnesota State University Mankato graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Minnesota State University Mankato

2

A rank of #2 makes Western Iowa Tech Community College one of the top schools for criminal justice & police science. Set in the city of Sioux City, Western Iowa Tech Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 15 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Western Iowa Tech Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Western Iowa Tech Community College earn around $43,547 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,500 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Western Iowa Tech Community College

3

Southeast Technical Institute came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of Sioux Falls. Southeast Technical Institute awarded about 15 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $49,560 in their early career. Southeast Technical Institute graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Southeast Technical Institute

4

Hawkeye Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. Hawkeye Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Waterloo. About 23 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Hawkeye Community College in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Hawkeye Community College earn a median of $49,572 early in their careers. Hawkeye Community College graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Hawkeye Community College

5

A rank of #5 makes Normandale Community College one of the top schools for criminal justice & police science. This large public university is located in the city of Bloomington. There were roughly 18 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Normandale Community College in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Normandale Community College earn a median of $53,871 early in their careers. Normandale Community College graduates carry a median of $12,891 in student loans. See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Normandale Community College

6

Des Moines Area Community College came in at #6 for criminal justice & police science this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Ankeny. There were roughly 61 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Des Moines Area Community College in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Des Moines Area Community College earn a median of $42,555 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000. Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at Des Moines Area Community College

7

Lake Area Technical Institute ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. Set in the town of Watertown, Lake Area Technical Institute is a mid-sized public institution. About 18 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Lake Area Technical Institute in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Lake Area Technical Institute earn around $41,230 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Lake Area Technical Institute

8

Alexandria Technical And Community College landed the #8 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the town of Alexandria, Alexandria Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public institution. There were roughly 120 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Alexandria Technical And Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $50,433 in their early career. Alexandria Technical And Community College graduates carry a median of $15,400 in student loans. See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Alexandria Technical And Community College

9

Rasmussen College Minnesota ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. Located in the city of St. Cloud, Rasmussen College Minnesota is a large private for-profit university. There were roughly 63 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Rasmussen College Minnesota in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Rasmussen College Minnesota generally make around $51,300. Students borrow a median of $30,710 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Rasmussen College Minnesota

10

Metropolitan State University earned the #10 position for criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the city of Saint Paul, Metropolitan State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 20 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Metropolitan State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Metropolitan State University generally make around $52,125. Students borrow a median of $31,213 to complete this degree. Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Metropolitan State University

11

Rochester Community And Technical College landed the #11 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Rochester. There were roughly 51 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Rochester Community And Technical College in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Rochester Community And Technical College earn a median of $50,418 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,470 to complete this degree. See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Rochester Community And Technical College

12
Jefferson College crest
Jefferson College
Hillsboro, MO

Jefferson College placed #12 among the best criminal justice & police science schools. Set in the rural area of Hillsboro, Jefferson College is a mid-sized public institution. There were roughly 25 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Jefferson College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Jefferson College generally make around $61,641. Jefferson College graduates carry a median of $13,664 in student loans. Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Jefferson College

13

Northland Community And Technical College placed #13 among the best criminal justice & police science schools. Set in the town of Thief River Falls, Northland Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. There were roughly 11 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Northland Community And Technical College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Northland Community And Technical College generally make around $47,216. Northland Community And Technical College graduates carry a median of $12,138 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Northland Community And Technical College

14

Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College came in at #14 for criminal justice & police science this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Hibbing. About 60 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College generally make around $56,757. Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College graduates carry a median of $25,125 in student loans. See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College

15

Iowa Central Community College earned the #15 position for criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the town of Fort Dodge, Iowa Central Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Iowa Central Community College awarded about 22 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Iowa Central Community College earn a median of $39,121 early in their careers. Iowa Central Community College graduates carry a median of $14,473 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Iowa Central Community College

16

Northeast Community College earned the #16 position for criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the town of Norfolk, Northeast Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Northeast Community College awarded about 15 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Northeast Community College earn around $33,064 in the first couple years of their career. Northeast Community College graduates carry a median of $9,000 in student loans. Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at Northeast Community College

17

Saint Louis Community College earned the #17 position for criminal justice & police science this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Bridgeton. Saint Louis Community College awarded about 14 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Saint Louis Community College earn a median of $38,999 early in their careers. Saint Louis Community College graduates carry a median of $6,625 in student loans. Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Saint Louis Community College

18
Century College crest
Century College
White Bear Lake, MN

Century College landed the #18 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the suburb of White Bear Lake, Century College is a large public institution. There were roughly 75 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Century College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Century College earn around $54,174 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,366 to complete this degree. See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Century College

19

Lake Region State College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. Lake Region State College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Devils Lake. Lake Region State College awarded about 36 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Lake Region State College generally make around $57,765. Typical student debt for the program is $10,131. Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Lake Region State College

20
Hennepin Technical College crest
Hennepin Technical College
Brooklyn Park, MN

Hennepin Technical College earned the #20 position for criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park, Hennepin Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 190 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Hennepin Technical College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $56,699 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,854 to complete this degree. Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at Hennepin Technical College

21

Fond Du Lac Tribal And Community College landed the #21 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. Fond Du Lac Tribal And Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Cloquet. There were roughly 48 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Fond Du Lac Tribal And Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Fond Du Lac Tribal And Community College generally make around $51,144. Typical student debt for the program is $15,665. Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Fond Du Lac Tribal And Community College

22

North Hennepin Community College earned the #22 position for criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park, North Hennepin Community College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 21 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at North Hennepin Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from North Hennepin Community College generally make around $53,797. Students borrow a median of $30,250 to complete this degree. See the full criminal justice & police science program report for North Hennepin Community College

23

Riverland Community College landed the #23 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the town of Austin, Riverland Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Riverland Community College awarded about 14 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Riverland Community College earn around $49,194 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,732. More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Riverland Community College

24

Metropolitan Community College Kansas City placed #24 among the best criminal justice & police science schools. This large public university is located in the city of Kansas City. There were roughly 10 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Metropolitan Community College Kansas City in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Metropolitan Community College Kansas City generally make around $48,137. Metropolitan Community College Kansas City graduates carry a median of $4,821 in student loans. See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Metropolitan Community College Kansas City

25

Minnesota West Community And Technical College landed the #25 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the rural area of Granite Falls. There were roughly 10 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Minnesota West Community And Technical College in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Minnesota West Community And Technical College earn a median of $43,009 early in their careers. Minnesota West Community And Technical College graduates carry a median of $13,946 in student loans. Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at Minnesota West Community And Technical College

Rest of the Top 31 Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools

These schools also placed among the best for criminal justice & police science this year:

26
Mineral Area College crest
Mineral Area College
Park Hills, MO
27
Inver Hills Community College crest
Inver Hills Community College
Inver Grove Heights, MN
28
29
Midland University crest
Midland University
Fremont, NE
30
31
Crowder College crest
Crowder College
Neosho, MO

Narrow Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools by State

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 69 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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