Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Minnesota2026 Rankings
Choosing the right Criminal Justice program in Minnesota means weighing more than just name recognition. We analyzed 19 colleges across the state, scoring each on the metrics that matter most to long-term career success: graduation rates, post-graduation earnings, net cost, and academic rigor.
The data tells an interesting story: Minnesota State University Moorhead leads on selectivity (53% acceptance rate), but selectivity is only one dimension of quality. Across Minnesota's Criminal Justice programs, the typical in-state price is $20,381 and the average graduation rate is 51%. Graduates of these programs earn a median of $49,322 within one year of completing their degree.
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| # | College | Value Score | Admit Rate | Grad Rate | Net Price | Median Earnings | Student:Faculty | Majors Offered | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Minnesota-CrookstonPublic | Strong· 36 | 58% | 50% | $8,362 | $33,062 | 17:1 | 32 | 1,650 |
| 2 | Saint Mary's University of MinnesotaPrivate | Strong· 35 | 89% | 68% | $14,418 | $64,894 | 18:1 | 70 | 1,061 |
| 3 | Winona State UniversityPublic | Strong· 35 | 69% | 61% | $15,495 | $48,861 | 15:1 | 52 | 5,088 |
| 4 | Concordia University-Saint PaulPrivate | Strong· 34 | 75% | 59% | $15,449 | $42,607 | 15:1 | 42 | 2,786 |
| 5 | Minnesota State University MoorheadPublic | Strong· 34 | 53% | 55% | $14,544 | $44,037 | 17:1 | 61 | 3,120 |
| 6 | Southwest Minnesota State UniversityPublic | Strong· 34 | 69% | 44% | $12,810 | $44,949 | 16:1 | 42 | 2,045 |
| 7 | Bemidji State UniversityPublic | Strong· 34 | 71% | 53% | $13,262 | $49,617 | 16:1 | 46 | 3,120 |
| 8 | St Catherine UniversityPrivate | Good· 33 | 94% | 65% | $19,862 | $50,409 | 10:1 | 53 | 2,393 |
| 9 | University of Northwestern-St PaulPrivate | Good· 31 | 92% | 68% | $20,077 | $45,168 | 15:1 | 46 | 1,495 |
| 10 | Saint Cloud State UniversityPublic | Good· 31 | 95% | 47% | $13,125 | $49,412 | 17:1 | 74 | 5,181 |
| 11 | Hamline UniversityPrivate | Good· 30 | 90% | 58% | $19,628 | $41,896 | 13:1 | 47 | 1,685 |
| 12 | Herzing University-MinneapolisPrivate | Average· 29 | 94% | 74% | $12,787 | $67,229 | 14:1 | 9 | 747 |
| 13 | Metropolitan State UniversityPublic | Average· 29 | 96% | 38% | $18,128 | $52,125 | 14:1 | 46 | 4,998 |
| 14 | Crown CollegePrivate | Average· 28 | 63% | 64% | $26,296 | $35,840 | 22:1 | 29 | 789 |
| 15 | Minnesota State University-MankatoPublic | Average· 28 | 91% | 54% | $15,200 | $49,019 | 21:1 | 78 | 11,325 |
| 16 | Walden UniversityPrivate | Fair· 23 | — | 0% | $12,498 | $50,634 | 30:1 | 20 | 7,337 |
| 17 | Rasmussen University-MinnesotaPrivate | Fair· 22 | — | 53% | $19,319 | $39,317 | 14:1 | 21 | 8,033 |
| 18 | Capella UniversityPrivate | Weak· 19 | — | 33% | $20,489 | $47,606 | 36:1 | 24 | 16,173 |
| 19 | Oak Hills Christian CollegePrivate | Weak· 19 | — | 31% | $24,392 | $26,114 | 10:1 | 14 | 98 |