Best colleges for criminal justice in Missouri
Colleges that offer a bachelor’s in criminal justice or criminology, ranked by Compass Score.
Best colleges for criminal justice in Missouri33 schools
33 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score. The top 25 are shown.
How this list is made
- Schools in Missouri.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Offers a bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology, from the College Scorecard field-of-study data (credential level 3).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
College of the Ozarks
Point Lookout, MO · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#2 in Missouri
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- 2
Saint Louis University
Saint Louis, MO · Private nonprofit#4 in Missouri
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade B · Top 42%
- 3
Truman State University
Kirksville, MO · Public#7 in Missouri
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade A- · Top 16%
- 4
Rockhurst University
Kansas City, MO · Private nonprofitTop 15% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade B+ · Top 35%
- 5
Drury University
Springfield, MO · Private nonprofit#14 in Missouri
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade B-
- 6
Maryville University of Saint Louis
Saint Louis, MO · Private nonprofitTop 24% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade B · Top 39%
- 7Tie
Evangel University
Springfield, MO · Private nonprofit#17 in Missouri
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade B-
- 7Tie
University of Missouri-St. Louis
Saint Louis, MO · Public#17 in Missouri
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade B+ · Top 25%
- 9
University of Missouri-Kansas City
Kansas City, MO · Public#19 in Missouri
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade A · Top 9%
- 10
Cottey College
Nevada, MO · Private nonprofit#23 in Missouri
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade B-
- 11
Missouri State University-Springfield
Springfield, MO · Public#24 in Missouri
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade B · Top 45%
- 12
Webster University
Saint Louis, MO · Private nonprofit#25 in Missouri
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade C+
- 13
Hannibal-LaGrange University
Hannibal, MO · Private nonprofit#26 in Missouri
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade B-
- 14
Lindenwood University
Saint Charles, MO · Private nonprofit#27 in Missouri
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade B-
- 15
University of Central Missouri
Warrensburg, MO · Public#28 in Missouri
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade B+ · Top 33%
- 16
Northwest Missouri State University
Maryville, MO · Public#29 in Missouri
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade B · Top 43%
- 17
Southwest Baptist University
Bolivar, MO · Private nonprofit#31 in Missouri
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade B-
- 18
Westminster College
Fulton, MO · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade C+
- 19
Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Fayette, MO · Private nonprofitTop 25% for low debt
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade B
- 20
Southeast Missouri State University
Cape Girardeau, MO · Public#34 in Missouri
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade B · Top 50%
- 21
Columbia College
Columbia, MO · Private nonprofit#38 in Missouri
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade C+
- 22
Drury University-College of Continuing Professional Studies
Springfield, MO · Private nonprofitTop 17% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade B · Top 39%
- 23
Avila University
Kansas City, MO · Private nonprofit#40 in Missouri
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade B · Top 42%
- 24
Harris-Stowe State University
Saint Louis, MO · PublicTop 15% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade C+
- 25
Missouri Western State University
Saint Joseph, MO · Public#43 in Missouri
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade B · Top 41%
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| College of the Ozarks | About $6,000 | — | $41,592 | 64% |
| Saint Louis University | About $24,000 | $25,000 | $70,783 | 80% |
| Truman State University | About $13,000 | $21,000 | $56,280 | 69% |
| Rockhurst University | About $26,000 | $18,250 | $67,102 | 75% |
| Drury University | About $21,000 | $20,979 | $40,694 | 62% |
| Maryville University of Saint Louis | About $22,000 | $22,000 | $62,105 | 66% |
| Evangel University | About $19,000 | $24,736 | $46,573 | 65% |
| University of Missouri-St. Louis | About $15,000 | $20,000 | $53,037 | 57% |
| University of Missouri-Kansas City | About $13,000 | $18,750 | $59,637 | 55% |
| Cottey College | About $14,000 | $19,043 | $35,422 | 56% |
| Missouri State University-Springfield | About $18,000 | $21,992 | $49,827 | 58% |
| Webster University | About $27,000 | $23,000 | $50,876 | 64% |
| Hannibal-LaGrange University | About $23,000 | $18,599 | $42,643 | 50% |
| Lindenwood University | About $20,000 | $26,000 | $53,278 | 49% |
| University of Central Missouri | About $14,000 | $21,000 | $49,560 | 54% |
| Northwest Missouri State University | About $16,000 | $21,500 | $47,885 | 54% |
| Southwest Baptist University | About $22,000 | $20,957 | $43,112 | 55% |
| Westminster College | About $24,000 | $27,000 | $52,199 | 55% |
| Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences | About $23,000 | $17,619 | $48,991 | 51% |
| Southeast Missouri State University | About $16,000 | $21,500 | $44,030 | 58% |
| Columbia College | About $23,000 | $23,879 | $45,378 | 42% |
| Drury University-College of Continuing Professional Studies | About $11,000 | $20,979 | $40,694 | 43% |
| Avila University | About $16,000 | $25,000 | $52,773 | 52% |
| Harris-Stowe State University | About $10,000 | $25,930 | $31,088 | 28% |
| Missouri Western State University | About $13,000 | $19,968 | $42,647 | 39% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 20
- Arizona 9
- Arkansas 17
- California 40
- Colorado 11
- Connecticut 14
- Delaware 4
- District of Columbia 6
- Florida 38
- Georgia 39
- Hawaii 3
- Idaho 5
- Illinois 36
- Indiana 33
- Iowa 19
- Kansas 21
- Kentucky 17
- Louisiana 17
- Maine 7
- Maryland 13
- Massachusetts 31
- Michigan 22
- Minnesota 22
- Mississippi 12
- Montana 3
- Nebraska 14
- Nevada 3
- New Hampshire 10
- New Jersey 20
- New Mexico 8
- New York 52
- North Carolina 39
- North Dakota 6
- Ohio 57
- Oklahoma 17
- Oregon 7
- Pennsylvania 82
- Puerto Rico 22
- Rhode Island 8
- South Carolina 21
- South Dakota 7
- Tennessee 29
- Texas 60
- Utah 8
- Vermont 4
- Virginia 25
- Washington 14
- West Virginia 14
- Wisconsin 22