Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Iowa2026 Rankings
Iowa is home to 17 accredited institutions offering Criminal Justice programs — from large public research universities to small private liberal arts colleges. This ranking evaluates each school on admission selectivity, four-year graduation rate, net price, and graduate earnings to surface the programs that deliver the strongest outcomes.
Among the schools listed here, William Penn University is the most selective, admitting 57% of applicants. Average in-state tuition across this group sits at $33,992, while out-of-state students can expect to pay around $35,682. Median early-career earnings for Criminal Justice graduates in this state average $46,431 per year, and the average four-year graduation rate among ranked programs is 55%.
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| # | College | Value Score | Admit Rate | Grad Rate | Net Price | Median Earnings | Student:Faculty | Majors Offered | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coe CollegePrivate | Strong· 36 | 71% | 59% | $16,889 | $42,166 | 11:1 | 40 | 1,246 |
| 2 | Iowa State UniversityPublic | Strong· 35 | 89% | 75% | $15,430 | $41,624 | 18:1 | 96 | 25,033 |
| 3 | Loras CollegePrivate | Strong· 35 | 92% | 70% | $16,930 | $47,413 | 12:1 | 41 | 1,087 |
| 4 | Buena Vista UniversityPrivate | Strong· 35 | 72% | 47% | $16,286 | $37,641 | 13:1 | 51 | 1,378 |
| 5 | University of Northern IowaPublic | Strong· 34 | 94% | 69% | $13,872 | $43,748 | 17:1 | 68 | 7,599 |
| 6 | Saint Ambrose UniversityPrivate | Strong· 34 | 73% | 63% | $20,111 | $51,020 | 11:1 | 55 | 2,101 |
| 7 | Graceland University-LamoniPrivate | Strong· 34 | 83% | 38% | $14,173 | $44,792 | 14:1 | 39 | 901 |
| 8 | Simpson CollegePrivate | Good· 33 | 89% | 66% | $19,007 | $42,862 | 11:1 | 48 | 1,130 |
| 9 | Dordt UniversityPrivate | Good· 33 | 71% | 65% | $23,110 | $46,256 | 14:1 | 87 | 1,547 |
| 10 | William Penn UniversityPrivate | Good· 33 | 57% | 29% | $21,898 | $40,662 | 13:1 | 39 | 1,391 |
| 11 | Morningside UniversityPrivate | Good· 32 | 71% | 53% | $22,086 | $53,956 | 12:1 | 43 | 1,166 |
| 12 | Mount Mercy UniversityPrivate | Good· 32 | 79% | 56% | $21,217 | $34,824 | 13:1 | 45 | 1,135 |
| 13 | University of DubuquePrivate | Good· 30 | 87% | 41% | $20,992 | $46,307 | 11:1 | 33 | 1,473 |
| 14 | Grand View UniversityPrivate | Good· 30 | 98% | 56% | $19,778 | $45,175 | 12:1 | 48 | 1,472 |
| 15 | Northwestern CollegePrivate | Average· 29 | 87% | 64% | $20,674 | $46,403 | 14:1 | 44 | 1,125 |
| 16 | Waldorf UniversityPrivate | Average· 26 | 73% | 29% | $23,887 | $42,735 | 22:1 | 23 | 2,103 |
| 17 | Briar Cliff UniversityPrivate | Fair· 23 | — | 49% | $23,260 | $43,017 | 12:1 | 47 | 626 |