Best colleges for Criminal Justice and Corrections in Minnesota
Ranked by graduate earnings
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, Metropolitan State University and Bemidji State University are the top bachelor's Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Minnesota by graduate earnings. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $64,894, College Scorecard. Minnesota State University - Mankato, Metropolitan State University and Saint Cloud State University award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Minnesota: 84, 79 and 34 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 36 Minnesota colleges offer Criminal Justice and Corrections and award 1,556 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 10 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 | Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Winona Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $64,894 | 23 | 66% | $18,163 | $28,708 |
| 2 | Metropolitan State University Saint Paul Public · Bachelor's degree | $52,125 | 79 | 44% | — | $29,426 |
| 3 | Bemidji State University Bemidji Public · Bachelor's degree | $49,617 | 30 | 48% | — | $23,181 |
| 4 | Saint Cloud State University Saint Cloud Public · Bachelor's degree | $49,412 | 34 | 40% | — | $21,500 |
| 5 | Minnesota State University - Mankato Mankato Public · Bachelor's degree | $49,019 | 84 | 54% | — | $25,000 |
| 6 | Winona State University Winona Public · Bachelor's degree | $48,861 | 24 | 57% | — | $26,012 |
| 7 | Minnesota State University Moorhead Moorhead Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,037 | 30 | 57% | — | $23,485 |
| 8 | Concordia University - Saint Paul Saint Paul Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $42,607 | 28 | 46% | $17,328 | $28,076 |
| 9 | Herzing University - Minneapolis St. Louis Park Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $67,229 | 1 | 47% | $16,383 | $28,399 |
| 10 | Walden University Minneapolis Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree Online | $50,634 | 239 | — | — | $48,133 |
Top 10 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 | Hennepin Technical College Brooklyn Park Public · Certificate | $56,699 | 217 | 42% | — | $19,854 |
| 2 | Alexandria Technical & Community College Alexandria Public · Certificate | $54,355 | 144 | 60% | — | $18,799 |
| 3 | Minnesota North College Hibbing Public · Associate degree | $54,328 | 57 | 42% | — | $25,125 |
| 4 | Century College White Bear Lake Public · Associate degree | $54,174 | 102 | 31% | — | $19,366 |
| 5 | Rasmussen University - Minnesota St. Cloud Private for-profit · Certificate Online | $67,135 | 94 | 53% | $19,944 | $24,408 |
| 6 | North Hennepin Community College Brooklyn Park Public · Associate degree | $53,797 | 38 | 22% | — | $30,250 |
| 7 | Inver Hills Community College Inver Grove Heights Public · Associate degree | $52,724 | 20 | 24% | — | $23,690 |
| 8 | Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College Cloquet Public · Associate degree | $51,144 | 36 | 26% | — | $15,665 |
| 9 | Minneapolis Community and Technical College Minneapolis Public · Associate degree Small program | $50,959 | 10 | 20% | — | $30,000 |
| 10 | Rochester Community and Technical College Rochester Public · Associate degree | $50,418 | 54 | 29% | — | $14,470 |
Colleges awarding the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Minnesota
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 | Minnesota State University - Mankato Mankato Public | 84 | $49,019 |
| 2 | Metropolitan State University Saint Paul Public | 79 | $52,125 |
| 3 | Saint Cloud State University Saint Cloud Public | 34 | $49,412 |
| 4 | Central Lakes College - Brainerd Brainerd Public | 33 | Not reported |
| 5 | Bemidji State University Bemidji Public | 30 | $49,617 |
| 6 | Minnesota State University Moorhead Moorhead Public | 30 | $44,037 |
| 7 | Concordia University - Saint Paul Saint Paul Private not-for-profit | 28 | $42,607 |
| 8 | Winona State University Winona Public | 24 | $48,861 |
| 9 | Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Winona Private not-for-profit | 23 | $64,894 |
| 10 | Minnesota State College Southeast Winona Public | 19 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 26 Minnesota colleges offering Criminal Justice and Corrections
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Correctional Officers and Jailers (SOC 33-3012).
Top skills
What Correctional Officers and Jailers earn in Minnesota
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Minnesota.
Which Minnesota colleges award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees?+
Minnesota State University - Mankato (84 graduates a year), Metropolitan State University (79 graduates a year) and Saint Cloud State University (34 graduates a year) award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Minnesota, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 36 Minnesota colleges offer Criminal Justice and Corrections.
What is the best college for Criminal Justice and Corrections in Minnesota?+
By graduate earnings, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota leads among bachelor's Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Minnesota, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $64,894, College Scorecard. Metropolitan State University and Bemidji State University follow. By degrees awarded, Minnesota State University - Mankato is the largest, with 84 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Criminal Justice and Corrections program in Minnesota has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota tops the list at $64,894. 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 Minnesota?+
The average annual wage for Correctional Officers and Jailers in Minnesota is $67,870 (median $66,040), across about 5,350 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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