Find Affordable College Courses

What Do You Want to Study?

Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Plains States Region

2023 Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Plains States Region

95 Colleges
$39,141 Avg Salary
$29,816 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Criminal Justice & Corrections School for You

In 2020-2021, 113,121 criminal justice and corrections students received a degree or certificate, making the major the #7 most popular in the country.

There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which program is right for you. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.

Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Course Advisor has created the Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Plains States Region to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 95 schools in the Plains States Region to see which ones offered the best programs for students.

View our full ranking methodology.

2023 Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Plains States Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for criminal justice majors pursuing a .

Top 15% Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools

Our 2023 rankings named Herzing University - Minneapolis the best school in the Plains States Region for criminal justice and corrections students. Herzing University - Minneapolis is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Minneapolis.

Criminal Justice majors at Herzing University - Minneapolis take out an average of $25,971 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Herzing University - Minneapolis

Request Information

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Plains States Region list. SMU MN is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Winona.

The average amount in student loans that criminal justice majors at SMU MN take out is $26,225.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota

Request Information

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend University of St Thomas Minnesota. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Plains States Region list. UST MN is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Saint Paul.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at University of St Thomas Minnesota

Request Information

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Central Christian College of Kansas. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in the remote town of McPherson, Central Christian College is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

While working on their degree, criminal justice majors at Central Christian College accumulate an average of around $31,445 in student debt.

Read More…

Request Information
#5

Southwestern College

Winfield, KS

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Southwestern College is a great place for criminal justice and corrections students. SC is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Winfield.

The average amount in student loans that criminal justice majors at SC take out is $22,849.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Southwestern College

Request Information
#6

Waldorf University

Forest City, IA

Waldorf University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in the town of Forest City, Waldorf is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Criminal Justice majors at Waldorf take out an average of $27,000 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full Criminal Justice & Corrections at Waldorf University Report

Request Information

Bemidji State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for criminal justice and corrections students. It came in at #7 on the list. Located in the remote town of Bemidji, Bemidji State University is a public school with a small student population.

While working on their degree, criminal justice majors at Bemidji State University accumulate an average of around $22,769 in student debt.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Bemidji State University

Request Information

Alexandria Technical & Community College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in the town of Alexandria, ATCC is a public school with a small student population.

After completing their degree, criminal justice graduates from ATCC carry an average student debtload of $15,750.

Full Criminal Justice & Corrections at Alexandria Technical & Community College Report

Request Information

North Dakota State University - Main Campus did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for criminal justice and corrections students. It came in at #9 on the list. North Dakota State University is a fairly large public school located in the medium-sized city of Fargo.

The average amount in student loans that criminal justice majors at North Dakota State University take out is $22,749.

Full Criminal Justice & Corrections at North Dakota State University - Main Campus Report

Request Information

Minnesota State University - Mankato ranked #10 on this year’s Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in the small city of Mankato, Minnesota State Mankato is a public college with a large student population.

After completing their degree, criminal justice graduates from Minnesota State Mankato carry an average student debtload of $25,834.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Minnesota State University - Mankato

Request Information
#11

Loras College

Dubuque, IA

With a ranking of #11, Loras College did quite well on this year’s best schools for criminal justice and corrections students. Loras is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Dubuque.

Criminal Justice majors at Loras take out an average of $24,000 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Loras College

Request Information
#12

Simpson College

Indianola, IA

Simpson College landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best criminal justice and corrections programs. Simpson College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the fringe town of Indianola.

The average amount in student loans that criminal justice majors at Simpson College take out is $27,000.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Simpson College

Request Information
#13

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, ND

University of North Dakota ranked #13 on this year’s Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in the small city of Grand Forks, UND is a public school with a large student population.

Criminal Justice majors at UND take out an average of $25,625 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read More…

Request Information
#14

Saint Louis University

Saint Louis, MO

Saint Louis University landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best criminal justice and corrections programs. SLU is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Louis.

Criminal Justice majors at SLU take out an average of $26,500 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full Criminal Justice & Corrections at Saint Louis University Report

Request Information

Additional Noteworthy Schools

Here are some additional great schools for Criminal Justice & Corrections students in the Plains States Region that almost earned our Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Plains States Region award.

Rank College Location
15 University of South Dakota Vermillion, SD
16 Wayne State College Wayne, NE
17 Winona State University Winona, MN
18 Fort Hays State University Hays, KS
19 Saint Cloud State University Saint Cloud, MN

Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Colleges by State

Explore the best criminal justice and corrections schools for a specific state in the Plains States region.

State Degrees Awarded
Missouri 1,273
Minnesota 1,525
Kansas 586
Iowa 627
Nebraska 608
North Dakota 225
South Dakota 154

One of 4 majors within the area of study, criminal justice and corrections has other similar majors worth exploring.

Related Major Annual Graduates
Fire Protection 13,766
Homeland Security 7,140
Security Science and Technology 6,888
Other Homeland Security 1,695

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

  • Read more about our ranking methodology.
  • 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 the rest 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.

Find Schools Near You

Our free school finder matches students with accredited colleges across the U.S.