Rankings / By State
Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Missouri
- 19
- Schools
- $46,668
- Avg. Earnings
- 45%
- Avg. Graduation
- $17,944
- Avg. Net Price
- $21,194
- Avg. Debt
CollegeRanker Research
What Surprised Us Most
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Median graduate earnings across these 19 schools run from $31,088 to $70,783, a 2.3× gap. The category label alone says little about payoff.
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Jefferson College delivers the most for the money: roughly $40,782 in median earnings against $7,378 a year in net price, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio on the list.
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Jefferson College is the lowest-cost school here at $7,378 a year in net price.
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Saint Louis University graduates 80% of its students, versus a 45% average across the list. Completion, more than selectivity, signals whether a degree actually gets finished.
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Jefferson College carries the healthiest debt load, with graduates owing just 0.23× their annual earnings.
Surprising Comparisons
- #1 Missouri Southern State University ($42,620 earnings) outranks the list's highest earner, Saint Louis University ($70,783), because it does more on mobility and cost.
- Jefferson College costs $7,378 a year and Missouri Baptist University costs $27,006. Yet their graduates earn $40,782 and $46,660, nowhere near the $19,628 price gap.
- On value, Jefferson College beats Saint Louis University: comparable career payoff at a fraction of the net price.
The Takeaway
The through line among the top-ranked schools is plain. They pair solid graduate earnings with affordable costs and meaningful social mobility. Prestige and selectivity matter far less than whether students end up better off.
What This Means for Students
Your shortlist should start with Jefferson College and Saint Louis University. For each school, look up the net price your family would actually pay, weigh it against typical graduate earnings, and build the decision around the return instead of the name recognition.
Why this ranking matters
These schools are ranked on outcomes that compound: graduate earnings, upward mobility, debt, and value, all drawn from federal tax records and Scorecard data rather than reputation surveys. The list rewards results over prestige, led by institutions whose graduates earn a median of about $44K ten years after enrollment.
How we measure this — full methodology →How we rank · 4 pillars
Federal-source data only. Build your own weighting →
Data Behind This Page Updated 2026-07-13
Source datasets
Methodology
Schools are scored on the CollegeRanker 4-Pillar Algorithm: Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25–35%), Academic Quality (15–20%), and Value (20–25%). Every weight is published and every figure traces to a public dataset.
See the full methodology and weights →Confidence notes
- Earnings, completion, and debt figures come from federal administrative records — tax data and student-aid filings — not surveys or self-reports, the highest-confidence tier of education data available.
- Social-mobility estimates are drawn from de-identified tax records covering more than 30 million students (Opportunity Insights).
- Where an institution is missing a metric, it is excluded from that metric rather than imputed, so averages are never inflated by guesses.
Limitations
- Federal earnings data primarily cover students who received federal financial aid; outcomes for non-aided students may differ.
- Earnings are measured roughly ten years after enrollment, so they describe how earlier cohorts fared — historical outcomes, not guarantees of future results.
- An institution's field-of-study mix affects raw earnings; scores reflect measured outcomes and are not fully major-adjusted unless explicitly noted.
- Net price is an average; the actual cost a given student pays varies widely by family income.
At a Glance
How the Top Schools Compare
| School | Earnings | Net Price | Graduation | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Missouri Southern State University #1 overall | $42,620 ▼ -9% vs avg | $12,007 | 40% | 73 |
| 2 University of Central Missouri #2 overall | $49,560 ▲ +6% vs avg | $14,462 | 52% | 73 |
| 3 Rockhurst University #3 overall | $67,102 ▲ +44% vs avg | $25,884 | 75% | 70 |
| $40,782 ▼ -13% vs avg | $7,378 | 35% | 70 | |
| $70,783 ▲ +52% vs avg | $24,398 | 80% | 69 |
Score uses our 4-pillar methodology. Earnings % is vs. this list's average.
See full ranking →Executive Summary
Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Missouri
This analysis ranks 19 institutions on graduate earnings, social mobility, completion, and cost. Across the list, alumni earn a median of $46,668 ten years after enrolling, against an average graduation rate of 45% and an average net price of $17,944.
Key takeaways
- Strongest Earnings-to-Cost Ratio: Jefferson College — Net Price: $7,378 | Graduation Rate: 35%
- Strongest Completion Outcomes: Saint Louis University — 80% completion rate
- Highest Earnings Generator: Saint Louis University — Median alumni earnings: $70,783
CollegeRanker Primary Research
Private nonprofit colleges cost 110% more in net price than publics, while their graduates earn 21% more.
Legal Profession Analysis
What does this ranking tell us about the legal profession and the justice system?
$44,030
Median earnings (10yr)
45%
Median graduation rate
$19,092
Median net price
1.4%
Avg. mobility rate
Law and criminal-justice programs feed careers where outcomes hinge on two numbers most rankings ignore: bar passage and employment in the field. Salaries are famously bimodal, with a cluster at large firms and a long tail in public-interest and government roles. Debt loads can be heavy, so program quality carries unusual stakes.
The median graduation rate across these 19 schools is 45%. Median graduate earnings reach $44,030 ten years after enrollment. Average net price, the cost after grants, is $19,092 a year, and median federal debt at graduation is about $21,500. Some 36% of students receive Pell grants, and mobility, the share of low-income students who reach the top quintile, averages 1.4%.
What we’re seeing: the gap between programs with strong bar-passage and placement records and the rest is wide, and debt makes that gap consequential. Median earnings of $44,030 against $21,500 in typical debt show why fit and outcomes matter more here than prestige alone.
The podium
Build your ranking
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Tip: Check the box on any 2–4 schools below to compare them side by side.
Full rankings
Why it ranks #1
Missouri Southern State University lands at #1 with a 73/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by academic quality (54/100). Graduates earn a median $42,620 a decade after enrolling, 9% below this list's average, and net price runs $12,007 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #2
University of Central Missouri lands at #2 with a 73/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (64/100). Graduates earn a median $49,560 a decade after enrolling, 6% above this list's average, and net price runs $14,462 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #3
Rockhurst University lands at #3 with a 70/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (50/100). Graduates earn a median $67,102 a decade after enrolling, 44% above this list's average, and net price runs $25,884 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #4
Jefferson College lands at #4 with a 70/100 composite, led by value per dollar (84/100) and pulled down by academic quality (58/100). Graduates earn a median $40,782 a decade after enrolling, 13% below this list's average, and net price runs $7,378 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #5
Saint Louis University lands at #5 with a 69/100 composite, led by social mobility (79/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (50/100). Graduates earn a median $70,783 a decade after enrolling, 52% above this list's average, and net price runs $24,398 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Cape Girardeau, MO · 74% accepted · $15,882 net
Why it ranks #6
Southeast Missouri State University lands at #6 with a 69/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (61/100). Graduates earn a median $44,030 a decade after enrolling, 6% below this list's average, and net price runs $15,882 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #7
Lindenwood University lands at #7 with a 69/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (53/100). Graduates earn a median $53,278 a decade after enrolling, 14% above this list's average, and net price runs $19,638 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #8
Park University lands at #8 with a 68/100 composite, led by social mobility (92/100) and pulled down by academic quality (45/100). Graduates earn a median $56,309 a decade after enrolling, 21% above this list's average, and net price runs $21,032 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #9
Mineral Area College lands at #9 with a 67/100 composite, led by social mobility (80/100) and pulled down by academic quality (50/100). Graduates earn a median $35,352 a decade after enrolling, 24% below this list's average, and net price runs $12,045 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #10
Missouri Baptist University lands at #10 with a 67/100 composite, led by social mobility (80/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (51/100). Graduates earn a median $46,660 a decade after enrolling, 0% above this list's average, and net price runs $27,006 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #11
Culver-Stockton College lands at #11 with a 65/100 composite, led by social mobility (84/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (45/100). Graduates earn a median $46,092 a decade after enrolling, 1% below this list's average, and net price runs $21,983 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #12
Missouri Western State University lands at #12 with a 65/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by academic quality (52/100). Graduates earn a median $42,647 a decade after enrolling, 9% below this list's average, and net price runs $13,251 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #13
Missouri Valley College lands at #13 with a 64/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by academic quality (47/100). Graduates earn a median $43,221 a decade after enrolling, 7% below this list's average, and net price runs $18,086 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Springfield, MO · $10,566 net
Why it ranks #14
Drury University-College of Continuing Professional Studies lands at #14 with a 63/100 composite, led by value per dollar (66/100) and pulled down by academic quality (48/100). Graduates earn a median $40,694 a decade after enrolling, 13% below this list's average, and net price runs $10,566 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Fayette, MO · 57% accepted · $22,766 net
Why it ranks #15
Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences lands at #15 with a 60/100 composite, led by academic quality (68/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (49/100). Graduates earn a median $48,991 a decade after enrolling, 5% above this list's average, and net price runs $22,766 a year, above the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #16
Hannibal-LaGrange University lands at #16 with a 58/100 composite, led by social mobility (63/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (50/100). Graduates earn a median $42,643 a decade after enrolling, 9% below this list's average, and net price runs $22,814 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #17
Harris-Stowe State University lands at #17 with a 57/100 composite, led by social mobility (61/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (49/100). Graduates earn a median $31,088 a decade after enrolling, 33% below this list's average, and net price runs $9,922 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #18
Columbia College lands at #18 with a 55/100 composite, led by academic quality (70/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (47/100). Graduates earn a median $45,378 a decade after enrolling, 3% below this list's average, and net price runs $22,715 a year, above the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #19
Lincoln University lands at #19 with a 48/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (53/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (49/100). Graduates earn a median $39,463 a decade after enrolling, 15% below this list's average, and net price runs $19,092 a year. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Cut it by what you care about
The same 19 schools, re-ranked by the outcome that matters to you.
Where the programs are
When it comes to choosing a criminal justice college in Missouri, students and families are looking for programs that not only provide a solid education but also lead to meaningful careers. With average earnings for graduates in this field hovering around $44,129, the right choice can have a significant impact on future earning potential.
The schools on this list stand out based on key outcomes such as graduation rates, earnings, and debt levels. For instance, while some institutions may have lower tuition costs, they might not offer the same return on investment in terms of graduate salaries or completion rates. This list ranks schools by these critical outcomes, helping prospective students find programs that align with their career goals.
Take Missouri Southern State University and Southeast Missouri State University, for example. Missouri Southern has a graduation rate of 40% with average earnings of $42,620, while Southeast boasts a higher graduation rate of 57% and better earnings at $44,030. This contrast illustrates how graduation rates can influence future earnings, providing a clearer picture of what to expect after graduation.
The story behind the ranking
A ranking gives you an order; these charts give you the shape. They show how this group of schools spreads across the four things that decide whether a degree pays off — what graduates earn, whether they finish, how far they move up, and what it costs. Look for the standouts, the outliers, and the trade-offs the list alone can't show.
Earnings Outcomes
What graduates earn 10 years after enrolling. Data from College Scorecard.
Distribution of Median Earnings
Earnings vs. Net Price
Top-left = best value. Top-ranked schools are highlighted.
Completion & Access
Graduation rates and who gets in. Data from College Scorecard & IPEDS.
Graduation Rates
Pell Grant Rate vs. Graduation Rate
Right = more low-income students. Higher = more graduate.
What the Mobility Data Says
Social mobility carries the heaviest weight in this ranking, and the measure comes from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built from more than 30 million anonymized tax records. Across the 13 schools here with that data, the average mobility rate is 1.4%. That figure is the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top. Park University leads the group at 3.9%, with Missouri Southern State University (1.7%) and Rockhurst University (1.6%) close behind.
Access varies widely. On average, 8.6% of students at these schools come from families in the bottom income quintile. Mineral Area College enrolls the most, at 17.2%, a sign it is reaching the students mobility is meant to lift. A high mobility rate paired with strong access is the combination that changes a generation's trajectory.
For the low-income students who do enroll, the success rate (the odds of reaching the top quintile) averages 18.5% across the list, peaking at 42.2% at Saint Louis University.
These campuses can also be measured on social capital: the cross-class friendships Opportunity Insights links to long-run economic outcomes. Economic connectedness here averages 1.56, where about 1.0 is the national norm, and Rockhurst University is highest at 1.76.
Mobility, access, and social-capital figures from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card & the Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas.
Cost & Debt
What families actually pay and what students owe. Data from College Scorecard.
Median Debt at Graduation
One noticeable pattern in the data is the difference in graduation rates and earnings. For instance, the University of Central Missouri has a graduation rate of 52% alongside average earnings of $49,560, outperforming Missouri Southern State University, which has a lower graduation rate of 40% and average earnings of $42,620. This highlights how higher completion rates often correlate with better financial outcomes post-graduation.
As you navigate these rankings, think about what matters most in your college experience. Consider factors like location, campus culture, and program specifics alongside financial metrics. For example, if you prioritize low debt, Jefferson College might be a strong option with a net price of just $7,378, but if your goal is higher earnings, Southeast Missouri State could serve you better with its stronger graduation rate and higher average earnings.
Ultimately, this data underscores the importance of choosing a college that aligns with both your career aspirations and financial circumstances. Each decision shapes the path to a stable future for you or your family. With careful consideration of these metrics, you can find a program that supports not just a degree, but a pathway to success.
Data Sources
U.S. Dept of Education College Scorecard
Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card
Social Capital Atlas
Times Higher Education World Rankings
NCES IPEDS
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Missouri: Your Questions, Answered
What is the #1 school in the Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Missouri ranking? +
Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, MO ranks #1 in our 2026 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Missouri ranking. It earns the top spot on the strength of a median $42,620 in graduate earnings ten years after enrollment and a 40% graduation rate. Our score is built entirely from federal data on graduation rates, graduate earnings, debt, and social mobility. Reputation surveys play no part.
Which school has the highest graduate earnings? +
Saint Louis University posts the highest median earnings on this list: $70,783 ten years after enrollment, well above the $46,668 average across the 19 ranked schools with earnings data. Earnings that outpace cost are what separate a degree that pays off from one that does not.
Which school offers the best value? +
On a pure return-on-cost basis, Jefferson College leads: graduates earn a median $40,782 against net price of about $7,378 a year, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio in the ranking. Applicants should weigh that payback against sticker price rather than prestige.
Which school has the highest graduation rate? +
Saint Louis University has the highest graduation rate in this ranking at 80%, compared with a 45% average across the list. Completion matters because the students who finish are the ones who actually capture the earnings and mobility gains a degree promises.
How much does it cost to attend these schools? +
The average net price, meaning what students actually pay after grants and scholarships, is about $17,944 a year across the 19 ranked schools with cost data. Jefferson College is among the most affordable at roughly $7,378. Net price is a far better guide to affordability than the published sticker price.
How is the Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Missouri ranking calculated? +
We score every school on a four-pillar algorithm: economic outcomes (graduate earnings and debt), social mobility (Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built on more than 30 million anonymized tax records), academic quality (graduation and retention), and value (net price and loan burden). Social mobility carries the heaviest weight, so schools that lift low-income students into higher earnings rank above those that simply admit wealthy students. Every input comes from federal data, and schools that withhold their numbers are scored lower for it.
How many schools are ranked and where does the data come from? +
This ranking evaluates 19 institutions using the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, the Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card and Social Capital Atlas, Times Higher Education, and NCES IPEDS. There are no opinion surveys or paid placements. The order is determined by the data alone and refreshed as new federal figures are released.
Sources & Citations
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