2026 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Missouri
[Criminal Justice](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/criminal-justice/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 16 schools to find the best return on investment for criminal justice students.
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2026 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Missouri
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in criminal justice, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Criminal Justice Schools
Our analysis ranked Missouri Southern State University the best value for a degree in criminal justice in Missouri. Located in the city of Joplin, Missouri Southern State University is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,600, while out-of-state students pay about $18,300. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $21,972 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Missouri Southern State University generally make around $32,776. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Missouri Southern State University admits about 97% of applicants.
University Of Central Missouri is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the town of Warrensburg, University Of Central Missouri is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,050, compared with $18,600 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $23,279. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from University Of Central Missouri generally make around $41,494. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 64%.
Drury University College Of Continuing Professional Studies came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice schools. Drury University College Of Continuing Professional Studies is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Springfield. In-state tuition and fees average $8,054. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $21,133 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Drury University College Of Continuing Professional Studies generally make around $39,646. Set against $21,133 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lincoln University Missouri came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice schools. Located in the city of Jefferson City, Lincoln University Missouri is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,796, compared with $17,692 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $37,171 to complete the criminal justice program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Lincoln University Missouri generally make around $32,331. That is a strong return on a $37,171 median debt.
Park University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice, landing the #5 spot this year. Park University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Parkville. In-state tuition and fees average $12,116. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $18,299 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Park University generally make around $49,305. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Methodist University College Of Graduate And Extended Studies placed #6 among the best values for criminal justice. Located in the rural area of Fayette, Central Methodist University College Of Graduate And Extended Studies is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $7,500 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the criminal justice program here. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $36,223. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Missouri State University Springfield earned the #7 position for value in criminal justice this year. Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public school located in the city of Springfield. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,502, while out-of-state students pay about $18,770. Students borrow a median of $24,408 to complete the criminal justice program here. Criminal Justice graduates of Missouri State University Springfield earn a median of $46,503 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Missouri State University Springfield admits about 90% of applicants.
Culver Stockton College landed the #8 spot for criminal justice value this year. Set in the rural area of Canton, Culver Stockton College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $30,875. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Culver Stockton College generally make around $33,394. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Columbia College Missouri ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice schools. Set in the city of Columbia, Columbia College Missouri is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,276. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $27,344 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $46,741. That is a strong return on a $27,344 median debt.
Central Methodist University College Of Liberal Arts And Sciences came in at #10 for value in criminal justice this year. Located in the rural area of Fayette, Central Methodist University College Of Liberal Arts And Sciences is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $28,620 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the criminal justice program here. Criminal Justice graduates of Central Methodist University College Of Liberal Arts And Sciences earn a median of $36,223 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 57%.
Webster University landed the #11 spot for criminal justice value this year. Webster University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $31,750. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $25,939. Criminal Justice graduates of Webster University earn a median of $57,152 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,939 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
More Criminal Justice Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.
