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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the The Plains States Region

43 Colleges in the United States
1,958 Criminal Justice Studies Degrees Awarded
$46,266 Avg Early-Career Salary

Criminal Justice Studies programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 103 schools to find the best for criminal justice studies students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Criminal Justice Studies in the The Plains States Region

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

Top Schools in Criminal Justice Studies

1

Iowa State University tops our 2026 ranking of the best criminal justice studies schools. Iowa State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ames. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 98 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Iowa State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $41,624 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree. Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Iowa State University

2

University Of North Dakota is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice studies, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of North Dakota is a large public school located in the city of Grand Forks. University Of North Dakota graduates 60% of students within six years. University Of North Dakota awarded about 70 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from University Of North Dakota generally make around $42,825. University Of North Dakota graduates carry a median of $19,875 in student loans. Read more about the criminal justice studies program at University Of North Dakota

3

Minnesota State University Mankato is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice studies, ranking #3. Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public school located in the city of Mankato. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 44 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Minnesota State University Mankato in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Minnesota State University Mankato generally make around $49,019. Minnesota State University Mankato graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Get the full criminal justice studies details for Minnesota State University Mankato

4

A rank of #4 makes Saint Louis University Main Campus one of the top schools for criminal justice studies. Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Louis. About 80% of students finish within six years. Saint Louis University Main Campus awarded about 22 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Saint Louis University Main Campus earn around $45,709 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,694. Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Saint Louis University Main Campus

5

Students looking for a strong criminal justice studies program will find one at Saint Cloud State University, which ranked #5. Saint Cloud State University is a large public school located in the city of Saint Cloud. Saint Cloud State University graduates 39% of students within six years. About 35 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Saint Cloud State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $49,412 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,500. Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Saint Cloud State University

6

Winona State University landed the #6 spot for criminal justice studies this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Winona. About 56% of students finish within six years. About 26 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Winona State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Winona State University generally make around $48,861. Students borrow a median of $26,012 to complete this degree. See the full criminal justice studies program report for Winona State University

7
Central Community College crest
Central Community College
Grand Island, NE

Central Community College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Grand Island. About 204 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Central Community College in the most recent year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Central Community College earn a median of $43,218 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $10,277. See the full criminal justice studies program report for Central Community College

8

Hawkeye Community College earned the #8 position for criminal justice studies this year. Hawkeye Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Waterloo. About 10 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Hawkeye Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Hawkeye Community College earn around $49,572 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete this degree. Get the full criminal justice studies details for Hawkeye Community College

9

University Of Nebraska At Omaha came in at #9 for criminal justice studies this year. Located in the city of Omaha, University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a large public university. University Of Nebraska At Omaha graduates 49% of students within six years. There were roughly 246 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Nebraska At Omaha in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from University Of Nebraska At Omaha generally make around $45,897. Students borrow a median of $22,561 to complete this degree. See the full criminal justice studies program report for University Of Nebraska At Omaha

10

Saint Marys University Of Minnesota earned the #10 position for criminal justice studies this year. Located in the town of Winona, Saint Marys University Of Minnesota is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. Saint Marys University Of Minnesota awarded about 20 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Saint Marys University Of Minnesota earn around $64,894 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $28,708 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Saint Marys University Of Minnesota

11

Bemidji State University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. Located in the town of Bemidji, Bemidji State University is a mid-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 46%. There were roughly 33 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Bemidji State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Bemidji State University generally make around $49,617. Bemidji State University graduates carry a median of $23,181 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Bemidji State University

12

Des Moines Area Community College landed the #12 spot for criminal justice studies this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Ankeny. There were roughly 16 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Des Moines Area Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Des Moines Area Community College earn around $42,555 in the first couple years of their career. Des Moines Area Community College graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Des Moines Area Community College

13

North Dakota State University Main Campus placed #13 among the best criminal justice studies schools. This large public university is located in the city of Fargo. North Dakota State University Main Campus graduates 64% of students within six years. About 42 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at North Dakota State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from North Dakota State University Main Campus earn around $38,057 in the first couple years of their career. North Dakota State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $23,125 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from North Dakota State University Main Campus

14
University Of Mary crest
University Of Mary
Bismarck, ND

University Of Mary placed #14 among the best criminal justice studies schools. Set in the rural area of Bismarck, University Of Mary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. About 18 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at University Of Mary in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $65,565 in their early career. University Of Mary graduates carry a median of $26,983 in student loans. See the full criminal justice studies program report for University Of Mary

15

Pittsburg State University placed #15 among the best criminal justice studies schools. Set in the town of Pittsburg, Pittsburg State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 51%. About 24 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Pittsburg State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Pittsburg State University earn around $50,003 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,843. Get the full criminal justice studies details for Pittsburg State University

16

University Of South Dakota came in at #16 for criminal justice studies this year. Located in the town of Vermillion, University Of South Dakota is a large public university. University Of South Dakota graduates 60% of students within six years. There were roughly 42 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of South Dakota in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from University Of South Dakota generally make around $40,402. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000. See the full criminal justice studies program report for University Of South Dakota

17
Truman State University crest
Truman State University
Kirksville, MO

Truman State University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. Set in the town of Kirksville, Truman State University is a mid-sized public institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 14 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Truman State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $32,176 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,997. Get the full criminal justice studies details for Truman State University

18

Metropolitan State University placed #18 among the best criminal justice studies schools. Metropolitan State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Saint Paul. The six-year graduation rate is 44%. About 46 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Metropolitan State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies 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 studies details for Metropolitan State University

19

Concordia University Saint Paul came in at #19 for criminal justice studies this year. Set in the city of Saint Paul, Concordia University Saint Paul is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 45%. About 27 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Concordia University Saint Paul in the most recent year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Concordia University Saint Paul earn a median of $65,867 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $28,076 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Concordia University Saint Paul

20

Minnesota State University Moorhead came in at #20 for criminal justice studies this year. Minnesota State University Moorhead is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Moorhead. About 57% of students finish within six years. Minnesota State University Moorhead awarded about 29 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Minnesota State University Moorhead earn around $44,037 in the first couple years of their career. Minnesota State University Moorhead graduates carry a median of $23,485 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Minnesota State University Moorhead

21
Grand View University crest
Grand View University
Des Moines, IA

Grand View University placed #21 among the best criminal justice studies schools. Grand View University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Des Moines. About 54% of students finish within six years. Grand View University awarded about 15 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $45,175 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,485 to complete this degree. Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Grand View University

22

Saint Ambrose University landed the #22 spot for criminal justice studies this year. Set in the city of Davenport, Saint Ambrose University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. About 24 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Saint Ambrose University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Saint Ambrose University generally make around $43,579. Students borrow a median of $27,528 to complete this degree. Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Saint Ambrose University

23

University Of Dubuque earned the #23 position for criminal justice studies this year. Located in the city of Dubuque, University Of Dubuque is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 40% of students finish within six years. University Of Dubuque awarded about 19 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from University Of Dubuque generally make around $46,307. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the criminal justice studies program at University Of Dubuque

24

University Of Nebraska At Kearney placed #24 among the best criminal justice studies schools. University Of Nebraska At Kearney is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Kearney. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. About 20 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at University Of Nebraska At Kearney in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from University Of Nebraska At Kearney earn around $40,128 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,250. Read more about the criminal justice studies program at University Of Nebraska At Kearney

25
Briar Cliff University crest
Briar Cliff University
Sioux City, IA

Briar Cliff University came in at #25 for criminal justice studies this year. Located in the city of Sioux City, Briar Cliff University is a small private not-for-profit university. Briar Cliff University graduates 48% of students within six years. Briar Cliff University awarded about 11 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Briar Cliff University earn a median of $61,105 early in their careers. Briar Cliff University graduates carry a median of $29,918 in student loans. Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Briar Cliff University

Rest of the Top 50 Criminal Justice Studies Schools

These schools also placed among the best for criminal justice studies this year:

26
27
28
Waldorf College crest
Waldorf College
Forest City, IA
29
Southwestern College crest
Southwestern College
Winfield, KS
30
Century College crest
Century College
White Bear Lake, MN
31
Lindenwood University crest
Lindenwood University
Saint Charles, MO
32
33
34
35
36
Simpson College crest
Simpson College
Indianola, IA
37
38
39
40
41
Webster University crest
Webster University
Saint Louis, MO
42
43
44
45
Bellevue University crest
Bellevue University
Bellevue, NE
46
Friends University crest
Friends University
Wichita, KS
47
48
49
50

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 103 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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