Best colleges for Criminal Justice and Corrections in Iowa
Ranked by graduate earnings
Iowa State University, University of Northern Iowa and Eastern Iowa Community College District award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Iowa: 84, 26 and 20 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 30 Iowa colleges offer Criminal Justice and Corrections and award 553 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Criminal Justice and Corrections program focuses on the various functions carried out by government agencies related to the punishment, treatment, and supervision of individuals convicted of crimes. This program is ideal for students…
Top 9 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,748 | 26 | 68% | — | $19,500 |
| 2 | Iowa State University Ames Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,624 | 84 | 75% | — | $23,250 |
| 3 | Loras College Dubuque Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $47,413 | 11 | 68% | $19,227 | $27,000 |
| 4 | University of Dubuque Dubuque Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $46,307 | 19 | 40% | $21,324 | $27,000 |
| 5 | Grand View University Des Moines Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $45,175 | 18 | 54% | $20,840 | $26,485 |
| 6 | Simpson College Indianola Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $42,862 | 17 | 63% | $20,710 | $27,000 |
| 7 | Waldorf University Forest City Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $42,735 | 33 | 21% | $22,328 | $27,000 |
| 8 | Buena Vista University Storm Lake Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $37,641 | 17 | 62% | $17,609 | $27,000 |
| 9 | Mount Mercy University Cedar Rapids Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $34,824 | 10 | 58% | $23,054 | $25,500 |
Top 4 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawkeye Community College Waterloo Public · Associate degree | $49,572 | 22 | 43% | — | $11,000 |
| 2 | Western Iowa Tech Community College Sioux City Public · Associate degree | $43,547 | 27 | 50% | — | $11,500 |
| 3 | Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny Public · Associate degree | $42,555 | 67 | 39% | — | $12,000 |
| 4 | Iowa Central Community College Fort Dodge Public · Associate degree | $39,121 | 32 | 42% | — | $14,473 |
Colleges awarding the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Iowa
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iowa State University Ames Public | 84 | $41,624 |
| 2 | University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls Public | 26 | $43,748 |
| 3 | Eastern Iowa Community College District Davenport Public | 20 | Not reported |
| 4 | University of Dubuque Dubuque Private not-for-profit | 19 | $46,307 |
| 5 | Grand View University Des Moines Private not-for-profit | 18 | $45,175 |
| 6 | Iowa Western Community College Council Bluffs Public | 18 | Not reported |
| 7 | Buena Vista University Storm Lake Private not-for-profit | 17 | $37,641 |
| 8 | Kirkwood Community College Cedar Rapids Public | 17 | Not reported |
| 9 | Simpson College Indianola Private not-for-profit | 17 | $42,862 |
| 10 | Indian Hills Community College Ottumwa Public | 16 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 20 Iowa colleges offering Criminal Justice and Corrections
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines Area Community College | Ankeny | Public | 67 |
| Waldorf University | Forest City | Private not-for-profit | 33 |
| Iowa Central Community College | Fort Dodge | Public | 32 |
| Western Iowa Tech Community College | Sioux City | Public | 27 |
| Hawkeye Community College | Waterloo | Public | 22 |
| Saint Ambrose University | Davenport | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| Graceland University - Lamoni | Lamoni | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| Coe College | Cedar Rapids | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Loras College | Dubuque | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Morningside University | Sioux City | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Mount Mercy University | Cedar Rapids | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Briar Cliff University | Sioux City | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Northwestern College | Orange City | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Southwestern Community College | Creston | Public | 8 |
| Iowa Lakes Community College | Estherville | Public | 5 |
| North Iowa Area Community College | Mason City | Public | 5 |
| Northeast Iowa Community College | Calmar | Public | 5 |
| Dordt University | Sioux Center | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Southeastern Community College | West Burlington | Public | 2 |
| Upper Iowa University | Fayette | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Correctional Officers and Jailers (SOC 33-3012).
Top skills
What Correctional Officers and Jailers earn in Iowa
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Iowa.
Which Iowa colleges award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees?+
Iowa State University (84 graduates a year), University of Northern Iowa (26 graduates a year) and Eastern Iowa Community College District (20 graduates a year) award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Iowa, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 30 Iowa colleges offer Criminal Justice and Corrections.
Which Criminal Justice and Corrections program in Iowa has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Northern Iowa tops the list at $43,748. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Correctional Officers and Jailers earn in Iowa?+
The average annual wage for Correctional Officers and Jailers in Iowa is $57,140 (median $53,040), across about 3,440 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Criminal Justice and Corrections program?+
The Criminal Justice and Corrections program focuses on the various functions carried out by government agencies related to the punishment, treatment, and supervision of individuals convicted of crimes. This program is ideal for students…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop active listening, monitoring, speaking, critical thinking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Correctional Officers and Jailers?+
The national job outlook is about -7.8% growth with around 30,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A High school diploma or equivalent is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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