Best Criminal Justice Schools In Iowa

A criminal justice degree can help you enter a field with competitive compensation, strong job security, and work that contributes to the greater good by protecting citizens from harm and injustice. The colleges and universities in Iowa offer a range of options from which to choose from the associate's to the doctoral degree level, with competitive majors such as criminology, forensic investigation, law enforcement, and digital forensics. Many Iowa schools also offer criminal justice degrees online, including Saint Ambrose University and the University of Iowa.

Quick Facts

There are 30 schools offering criminal justice degrees in Iowa (see below).¹
14 colleges and universities offer associate's degrees in criminal justice.*¹
16 colleges and universities offer bachelor's degrees in criminal justice.*¹
6 colleges and universities offer master's or doctoral degrees in criminal justice.*¹
7 colleges and universities offer criminal justice degree programs online.*¹
1 school ranked in Kiplinger's Best Values in Public Colleges in 2018.²
3 schools ranked in College Factual's Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Colleges in 2018.³
No schools ranked in Criminal Justice Degree Schools Best Online Bachelor's Programs in 2018.⁴
No schools ranked in US News Best Online Graduate Criminal Justice Programs in 2018.⁵

*For not-for-profit colleges and universities with criminal justice degree programs.

Criminal Justice Degree Programs in Iowa

If you are looking to enter the law enforcement field working for a state or local agency, a general criminal justice degree will often meet the requirements and give you a strong advantage over candidates without a degree. For jobs that require technical training, such as forensic science technicians, there are specific programs to prepare you for these careers. A criminal justice degree does more than open doors. It also conveys a great deal of knowledge which is useful in the field and in the office. Knowledge of criminal justice theory, how to run investigations, and how criminals think will not just be useful for an interview – it will be useful throughout a criminal justice career. Furthermore, thanks to the internet, students can earn their degree either online or in a classroom setting. Iowa's schools offer a variety of criminal justice degree programs to help you reach your goals.

Featured Online Programs

Explore program formats, transfer requirements, financial aid packages, and more by contacting the schools below.

Top-Ranked Schools with Criminal Justice Programs in Iowa

Kiplinger's Best Values in Public Colleges*

University of Iowa (#55 in-state, #92 out-of-state)

*Institution-wide ranking.

College Factual's Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Colleges

Simpson College (#60)
Saint Ambrose University (#109)
Mount Mercy University (#150)

Profiles of Well-Known Schools in Iowa

Iowa State University: Within Iowa State University's Department of Sociology is the Interdisciplinary Studies major in Criminology and Criminal Justice. The degree plan is a multifaceted course of study with courses from various social science fields that contribute to developing an understanding of criminal justice systems. Majors are required to do an internship with the help and guidance of the advising office and the Sociology Help Center. Students can keep up with field job posts, new publications, and research projects through "Soconnection," the online bulletin board for the Department of Sociology.

Upper Iowa University (Online): Upper Iowa University has available over a dozen fully online programs, including a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. UIU offers its students six eight-week terms each year, allowing scheduling flexibility for new students as well as students working through their major requirements. Graduates of the online BS in Criminal Justice program are equipped to begin entry-level careers or pursue the school's Master of Public Administration, offered only through virtual instruction. With rolling course schedules, enrolled individuals taking full course loads each term can finish their degrees within half the usual time it takes to earn a four-year degree.

Notable Alumni from Iowa Universities

Des Moines Police Chief Judy Bradshaw- Drake University
Polk County Sheriff Bill McCarthy – Drake University
Scott County Sheriff Dennis Conard – Saint Ambrose University

Police Quote:
Daniel L. Stepleton Regional Director of the Iowa Narcotics Officers Association
Source

Iowa Criminal Justice Careers

Iowa often has vacancies for state troopers and provides comprehensive benefits and a competitive salary. In addition to hiring for the police force, the state also has a number of vacancies in its correctional system. The Iowa Department of Corrections hires entry-level corrections officers on a continual basis. Correctional officers are paid a minimum annual salary of $38,417 and also receive a comprehensive benefits package.⁵ These positions have a path for promotion in which a criminal justice degree is helpful for career growth.

Des Moines, the state capitol and home of the Iowa State Fair, often has openings for police officers. You will need some college credit to get in the door, meaning that a criminal justice degree can help you to be among those selected for open positions. The Cedar Rapids Police Department (CRPD) is another agency that hires new law enforcement professionals. The CRPD offers comprehensive benefits and a desirable 4/10 work week which gives the officer three days off. There are also a large number insurance companies in Iowa, which creates opportunities to investigate and combat insurance fraud. The average yearly salary for protective service occupations in Iowa, which includes patrol and police officers, was $42,480 as of May 2015.⁶

Iowa Criminal Justice Salary and Jobs

Occupation	Number Employed	Average Annual Salary
Correctional Officers and Jailers	3,180	$47,050
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives	880	$71,720
Detectives and Criminal Investigators	400	$77,040
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers	5,280	$54,300

Data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics as of May 2015.^7,8,9,10

Iowa's Criminal Justice Employment Outlook

As of May 2016, Iowa had an unemployment rate of 3.9%, below the national average of 4.7%.¹¹ The 10-year state unemployment high was recorded at 6.3% in November of 2010.¹¹ Government-related employment is a good indicator of the availability of criminal justice jobs in Iowa. Projections Central estimates the following openings for criminal justice jobs through 2024:

Police and Sheriff Patrol: 190 annual openings; 46% in these positions report completing at least some college, with 24% holding an associate's degree.^12,13
Correctional Officers: 100 annual openings; 37% in these positions report completing at least some college, with 15% holding a post-secondary certificate.^12,14
Detectives and Criminal Investigators: 10 annual openings; 37% in these positions report completing at least some college, with 21% holding an associate's degree.^12,15
Security Guards: 150 annual openings; 4% in these positions report completing at least some college.^12,16
Paralegals and Legal Assistants: 50 annual openings; 86% in these positions report completing at least some college, with 30% holding an associate's degree and 44% holding a bachelor's degree.^12,17

These openings are projected based on both replacements and jobs growth.

The Mercatus Center, a conservative think tank, rated and analyzed the long-term solvency of each state government. After analyzing the state's cash/tax collection, budgeting, and pensions, Iowa was ranked 25th in the nation.¹⁸ This indicates that the state should be able to fulfill pension obligations to its employees.

iowa Criminal Justice Employment Outlook

Directory of Not-for-Profit Iowa Universities Offering Campus-based and Online Criminal Justice Degrees

For residents of Iowa, we recommend an accredited campus-based or online program for pursuing an associate's, bachelor's, and master's degree in the growing field of criminal justice.

Tip: If you don't live near a campus-based school that offers a program of interest, consider an online degree or a university in an adjacent state (Nebraska, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, or Missouri).

Schools with Online and On-Campus Criminal Justice Programs

Note: Student Reviews are based on the experiences of a few individuals and it is unlikely that you will have similar results. Please review the "Data, Student Reviews and Other Information" section in our Terms of Use and Disclaimers.

Buena Vista University (Storm Lake)Bachelor of Applied Science | Criminology & Criminal Justice (online or on-campus)Minor | Criminology and Criminal JusticeProgram | Army ROTC

Iowa Wesleyan College (Mount Pleasant)Bachelor of Arts | Criminal Justice (online or on-campus)Minor | Criminal Justice

Mount Mercy University (Cedar Rapids)Bachelor of Arts | Criminal JusticeMaster of Arts | Criminal Justice (online or on-campus)Minor | Criminal Justice

Southeastern Community College (West Burlington)Associate of Applied Science | Criminal JusticeAssociate of Applied Science | Information Technology: Network Administration & Cyber SecurityAssociate of Arts | Criminal Justice (transfer degree)Associate of Science | Forensic Chemistry (transfer degree)Certificate | Certified Protection Officer (online)Diploma | Information Technology: Network Administration & Cyber Security

University of Iowa (Iowa City)Bachelor of Applied Studies | Criminal Justice (online)Program | Military Science: Army ROTC

Student Review: "My time at Iowa has really helped me develop as a scientist and as a person. I have been able to work in a lab that has some of the leading researchers in the field and the University really opens the doors for great collaboration opportunities. It is easy to collaborate within the school as well as with researchers from other areas. The school is in the heart of downtown and all of the buildings are easy to access. My program itself is a highly ranked program, along with many other programs that are helping set the standard for what a program should provide for its students. I know that when I graduate, many doors will be open to me thanks to my time at this university."

— Katie W., student at University of Iowa

Upper Iowa University (Fayette)Associate of Arts | Criminal Justice (online)Bachelor of Science | Criminal Justice (online or on-campus)Bachelor of Science | Emergency and Disaster Management (online or on-campus)Bachelor of Science | Forensic ScienceBachelor of Science | Public Administration: Emergency Management (online)Bachelor of Science | Public Administration: Law Enforcement (online)Master of Public Administration | Emergency Management and Homeland Security (online)Minor | Criminal Justice (online or on-campus)Minor | Emergency and Disaster Management (online)Minor | Forensic ScienceCertificate | Criminalistics (online or on-campus)Certificate | Emergency and Disaster Management (online or on-campus)

Schools with On-Campus Criminal Justice Programs Only

Briar Cliff University (Sioux City)Bachelor of Arts | CriminologyMinor | Criminal Justice

Des Moines Area Community College (Ankeny)Associate of Applied Science | Law EnforcementAssociate of Applied Science | CorrectionsAssociate of Applied Science | Electronic CrimeAssociate of Applied Science | Homeland SecurityAssociate of Arts | Law Enforcement (transfer degree)Associate of Arts | Homeland Security (transfer degree)Associate of Arts | Corrections (transfer degree)Associate of Arts | Electronic Crime (transfer degree)Certificate | Homeland SecurityCertificate | Digital Forensic Investigation

Student Review: "What's special about the Criminal Justice program that I attend through DMACC is that we focus primarily on Homeland Security. I work for the Dept of Homeland Security full time already so this helps me out is a few ways. One being that I only take 2 classes max as not to overload ensuring a higher rate of success and second because of the focus there are already a lot of employed adults in the class. The best part about the classes are the guest speakers – we've had a private security analysis and trace explosives technician both were very interesting. The things I like least are the tests and quizzes as I've always been a terrible test taker. Overall I recommend this program to anyone but especially people on a second career that might focus on criminal justice."

— Student at Des Moines Area Community College

Dordt College (Sioux Center)Bachelor of Arts | Criminal JusticeMinor | Criminal Justice

Eastern Iowa Community College District (Davenport)Associate of Arts | Criminal Justice (transfer degree)Associate of Applied Science | Information Technology: Security & ForensicsDiploma | Use of Force/ Cell Extraction Training

Ellsworth Community College (Iowa Falls)Associate of Applied Science | CorrectionsAssociate of Applied Science | Law EnforcementAssociate of Arts | Criminal Justice

Graceland University (Lamoni)Bachelor of Arts | Criminal JusticeBachelor of Science | Criminal Justice AdministrationMinor | Peace Studies

Grand View University (Des Moines)Associate of Applied Science | Criminal JusticeAssociate of Science | Criminal JusticeAssociate of Arts | Criminal Justice

Hawkeye Community College (Waterloo)Associate of Arts | Criminal Justice (transfer degree)Certificate | Police AcademyCertification | Reserve Officer Firearms

Indian Hills Community College (Ottumwa)Associate of Applied Science | Criminal JusticeAssociate of Applied Science | Digital ForensicsAssociate of Applied Science to Bachelor of Arts | Criminology and Criminal Justice (cooperative program with Buena Vista University)

Student Review: "My experience was enjoyable but heavily flawed. For starters the classes showed us how to properly take apart special types of computers that involve decryption technology that allows the ability to search hard drives, duplicate hard drives, and delete them. But the main problems with this program was the fact the instructors were never in class and the one that was in class was fired then the second instructor has another class during our class time so he was never in the room to teach us anything or show us how to solve problems with criminal cases such as inspecting a suspects hard drive or other device. Overall if I had one request was to actually schedule teachers to do their actual job."

— Student at Indian Hills Community College

Iowa Central Community College (Fort Dodge)Associate of Professional Studies | Criminal Justice

Iowa Lakes Community College (Estherville)Associate of Applied Science | Criminal JusticeAssociate of Science | Criminal JusticeAssociate of Applied Science | Substance Abuse Counseling

Iowa State University (Ames)Bachelor of Arts | Criminal Justice StudiesMinor | Criminal Justice Studies

Student Review: "I attended Iowa State University and majored in Criminal Justice/Interdisciplinary Studies. There was a specific building in which the Criminal Justice department had their own advising office. I received assistance from my an advisor that I was assigned to based on my last name. The advisor recommended particular classes based on my degree and area of interest. I was most recently enrolled in a class called 'Police and Society.' This class was taught by a police officer and we learned about a variety of interesting social issues. It was very informative, as we were able to hear the perspective of someone on the police force. I also found my basic criminology classes to be informative as some of those were also taught by people in the same field. My overall experience in the criminal justice program was positive and informative, especially since I had prior interest in the subject"

— Student at Iowa State University

Student Review: "At Iowa State University, the Criminal Justice program is heavily dependent upon whom you receive for professors. For example in Political Science 319 (which is cross listed and is a required course for the Criminal Justice program) I had the more difficult professor and found that I struggled heavily. Some of my peers however had a professor who was more laid back and thus had an easier time with the course. Despite the difficulties I encountered, I found that by the end of the course I had a better understanding of Constitutional Law than my counterparts who had the "easier professor." Therefore, I would state that the program excels with the challenging professors however lacks consistency across the department."

— Student at Iowa State University

Kirkwood Community College (Cedar Rapids)Associate of Arts | Criminal Justice (transfer degree)Associate of Applied Science | Criminal Justice

Loras College (Dubuque)Bachelor of Arts | Criminal JusticeMinor | Criminal JusticeMinor | Peace and Justice

Marshalltown Community College (Marshalltown)Associate of Arts | Criminal JusticeAssociate of Applied Science | CorrectionsAssociate of Applied Science | Law Enforcement

North Iowa Area Community College (Mason City)Associate of Arts | Criminal Justice (transfer degree)Certificate | Criminal Justice

Western Iowa Tech Community College (Sioux City)Associate of Arts | Addictions Counseling EmphasisAssociate of Applied Science | Cyber Security & Digital CrimeAssociate of Applied Science | Police Science: CorrectionsAssociate of Applied Science | Police Science: Forensic InvestigationsAssociate of Applied Science/ Bachelor of Science | Police Science: Forensic Investigations (2+2 program with Briar Cliff University)Associate of Applied Science | Police Science Technology

References:1. National Center for Education Statistics: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/2. Kiplinger's Best Values in Public Colleges: https://www.kiplinger.com/tool/college/T014-S001-kiplinger-s-best-values-in-public-colleges/index.php3. College Factual Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Colleges: https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/rankings/top-ranked/4. US News Best Online Graduate Criminal Justice Programs: https://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/criminal-justice/rankings5. Iowa Department of Corrections: https://doc.iowa.gov/6. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2015 Occupational Employment and Wages, Protective Service Occupations (Major Group): https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes330000.htm7. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2015 Occupational Employment and Wages, Correctional Officers and Jailers https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes333012.htm8. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2015 Occupational Employment and Wages, First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes331012.htm9. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2015 Occupational Employment and Wages, Detectives and Criminal Investigators: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes333021.htm10. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2015 Occupational Employment and Wages, Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes333051.htm11. Y Charts 10 Year Unemployment Chart: https://https://ycharts.com/indicators/iowa_unemployment_rate12. Projections Central Long Term Occupational Projections: https://www.projectionscentral.com/Projections/LongTerm13. O*Net OnLine, Police Patrol Officers: https://www.onetonline.org/link/details/33-3051.0114. O*Net OnLine, Correctional Officers and Jailers: https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/33-3012.0015. O*Net OnLine, Police Detectives: https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/33-3021.0116. O*Net OnLine, Security Guards: https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/33-9032.0017. O*Net OnLine, Paralegals and Legal Assistants: https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/23-2011.0018. Mercatus Center, George Mason University, Ranking the States by Fiscal Condition 2016 Edition: https://www.mercatus.org/statefiscalrankings

Iowa Criminal Justice Schools