2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in Iowa
[Criminal Justice & Corrections](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 31 schools to find the best return on investment for criminal justice & corrections students.
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2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in Iowa
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in criminal justice & corrections, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools
Our analysis ranked Western Iowa Tech Community College the best value for a degree in criminal justice & corrections in Iowa. Western Iowa Tech Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Sioux City. Students from in state pay about $5,186 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,330. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $11,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Western Iowa Tech Community College generally make around $43,547. Set against $11,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice & corrections will find it at North Iowa Area Community College, which ranked #2. Located in the rural area of Mason City, North Iowa Area Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,653, while out-of-state students pay about $9,551. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $12,043. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $44,466. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Iowa Central Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & corrections, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the town of Fort Dodge, Iowa Central Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,496, while out-of-state students pay about $7,788. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $14,473. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Iowa Central Community College earn a median of $39,121 early in their careers. Set against $14,473 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kirkwood Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the city of Cedar Rapids, Kirkwood Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,176, compared with $8,220 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $15,779. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Kirkwood Community College generally make around $41,681. Set against $15,779 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Hawkeye Community College earned it the #5 place for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the rural area of Waterloo, Hawkeye Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,525, compared with $6,612 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $11,000. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Hawkeye Community College earn a median of $49,572 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Eastern Iowa Community College District placed #6 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Located in the city of Davenport, Eastern Iowa Community College District is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,848, while out-of-state students pay about $6,456. Students borrow a median of $15,995 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Eastern Iowa Community College District earn a median of $41,510 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Des Moines Area Community College earned the #7 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the suburb of Ankeny, Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,790, while out-of-state students pay about $6,690. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $12,000. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $42,555. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Northern Iowa earned the #8 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,936 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,712 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of University Of Northern Iowa earn a median of $43,748 early in their careers. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Iowa Western Community College placed #9 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the suburb of Council Bluffs, Iowa Western Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,930, compared with $7,080 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $15,153 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $43,444. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Iowa State University placed #10 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,787, with out-of-state students paying around $28,881. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Iowa State University generally make around $41,624. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Iowa State University admits about 89% of applicants.
Graceland University Lamoni came in at #11 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Graceland University Lamoni is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Lamoni. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $19,848. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $27,509. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Graceland University Lamoni generally make around $63,443. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Briar Cliff University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Briar Cliff University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Sioux City. In-state tuition and fees average $35,642. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $29,918 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Briar Cliff University earn a median of $61,105 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,918 median debt.
Grand View University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Grand View University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Des Moines. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,762. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $26,485 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $45,175. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Waldorf College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Waldorf College is a mid-sized private for-profit school located in the rural area of Forest City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $25,978. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Waldorf College earn a median of $42,735 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Simpson College landed the #15 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Set in the town of Indianola, Simpson College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $47,656 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $27,000. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $42,862. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Simpson College admits about 86% of applicants.
Saint Ambrose University landed the #16 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Set in the city of Davenport, Saint Ambrose University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $36,658. Students borrow a median of $27,528 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $43,579. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Saint Ambrose University admits about 77% of applicants.
University Of Dubuque landed the #17 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Located in the city of Dubuque, University Of Dubuque is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $42,095 in tuition and fees. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $46,307. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Mount Mercy University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Located in the city of Cedar Rapids, Mount Mercy University is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $40,878 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $25,500. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $48,841. That is a strong return on a $25,500 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 31 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.
