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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Criminal Justice Studies Schools in Minnesota

14 Colleges in the United States
371 Criminal Justice Studies Degrees Awarded
$52,034 Avg Early-Career Salary

Criminal Justice Studies degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their criminal justice studies programs.

College Factual analyzed 29 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best criminal justice studies schools.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Criminal Justice Studies in Minnesota

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall criminal justice studies education in Minnesota.

Top Schools in Criminal Justice Studies

1

Minnesota State University Mankato is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in criminal justice studies. This large public university is located in the city of Mankato. Minnesota State University Mankato graduates 54% of students within six years. About 44 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Minnesota State University Mankato in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $49,019 in their early career. Minnesota State University Mankato graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Minnesota State University Mankato

2

Saint Cloud State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Saint Cloud State University is a large public school located in the city of Saint Cloud. The six-year graduation rate is 39%. 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. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree. Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Saint Cloud State University

3

A rank of #3 makes Winona State University one of the top schools for criminal justice studies. Winona State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Winona. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 26 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Winona State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $48,861 in their early career. Winona State University graduates carry a median of $26,012 in student loans. Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Winona State University

4

Saint Marys University Of Minnesota came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Winona. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. Saint Marys University Of Minnesota awarded about 20 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $64,894 in their early career. Saint Marys University Of Minnesota graduates carry a median of $28,708 in student loans. See the full criminal justice studies program report for Saint Marys University Of Minnesota

5

Bemidji State University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. Set in the town of Bemidji, Bemidji State University is a mid-sized public institution. Bemidji State University graduates 46% of students within six years. About 33 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Bemidji State University in the most recent year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Bemidji State University earn a median of $49,617 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,181. See the full criminal justice studies program report for Bemidji State University

6

Metropolitan State University landed the #6 spot for criminal justice studies this year. Metropolitan State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Saint Paul. Metropolitan State University graduates 44% of students within six years. About 46 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Metropolitan State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Metropolitan State University earn around $52,125 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $31,213. More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Metropolitan State University

7

Concordia University Saint Paul landed the #7 spot for criminal justice studies this year. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Concordia University Saint Paul is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 45% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 27 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Concordia University Saint Paul in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Concordia University Saint Paul generally make around $65,867. Students borrow a median of $28,076 to complete this degree. See the full criminal justice studies program report for Concordia University Saint Paul

8

Minnesota State University Moorhead came in at #8 for criminal justice studies this year. Set in the suburb of Moorhead, Minnesota State University Moorhead is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. Minnesota State University Moorhead awarded about 29 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $44,037 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,485 to complete this degree. Get the full criminal justice studies details for Minnesota State University Moorhead

9

Northwestern College Minnesota landed the #9 spot for criminal justice studies this year. Northwestern College Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Paul. Northwestern College Minnesota graduates 68% of students within six years. Northwestern College Minnesota awarded about 13 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Northwestern College Minnesota generally make around $44,857. Northwestern College Minnesota graduates carry a median of $23,505 in student loans. Get the full criminal justice studies details for Northwestern College Minnesota

10
Century College crest
Century College
White Bear Lake, MN

Century College came in at #10 for criminal justice studies this year. Century College is a large public school located in the suburb of White Bear Lake. Century College awarded about 18 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Century College generally make around $54,174. Students borrow a median of $19,366 to complete this degree. Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Century College

11

Minnesota State Community And Technical College placed #11 among the best criminal justice studies schools. Located in the rural area of Fergus Falls, Minnesota State Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. About 15 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Minnesota State Community And Technical College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Minnesota State Community And Technical College earn around $42,972 in the first couple years of their career. Minnesota State Community And Technical College graduates carry a median of $18,197 in student loans. Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Minnesota State Community And Technical College

12

North Hennepin Community College earned the #12 position for criminal justice studies this year. Located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park, North Hennepin Community College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 11 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at North Hennepin Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from North Hennepin Community College generally make around $53,797. Typical student debt for the program is $30,250. More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from North Hennepin Community College

13

Minneapolis Community And Technical College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Minneapolis Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 13 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Minneapolis Community And Technical College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $50,959 in their early career. Minneapolis Community And Technical College graduates carry a median of $30,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Minneapolis Community And Technical College

14
Capella University crest
Capella University
Minneapolis, MN

Capella University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. This very large private for-profit university is located in the city of Minneapolis. Roughly 20% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 25 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Capella University in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Capella University earn a median of $59,630 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $36,500. See the full criminal justice studies program report for Capella University

15

Minnesota State College Southeast Technical came in at #15 for criminal justice studies this year. Minnesota State College Southeast Technical is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Winona. Minnesota State College Southeast Technical awarded about 16 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $50,290 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,522. More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Minnesota State College Southeast Technical

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Notes and References

This list is compiled 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 · 29 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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