Best colleges for Criminal Justice and Corrections in Missouri
Ranked by graduate earnings
Park University, Columbia College and Saint Louis University are the top bachelor's Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Missouri by graduate earnings. Park University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $49,305, College Scorecard. University of Central Missouri, Columbia College and Park University award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Missouri: 109, 103 and 103 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 39 Missouri colleges offer Criminal Justice and Corrections and award 1,136 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 | Park University Parkville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $49,305 | 103 | 38% | $16,013 | $18,299 |
| 2 | Columbia College Columbia Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $46,195 | 103 | 42% | $23,247 | $25,750 |
| 3 | Saint Louis University Saint Louis Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $45,709 | 37 | 80% | $24,886 | $23,694 |
| 4 | University of Central Missouri Warrensburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,221 | 109 | 54% | — | $23,279 |
| 5 | Southeast Missouri State University Cape Girardeau Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,537 | 51 | 58% | — | $26,625 |
| 6 | Lindenwood University Saint Charles Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $36,253 | 47 | 49% | $17,436 | $27,000 |
| 7 | Missouri Baptist University Saint Louis Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $42,555 | 11 | 48% | $25,407 | $23,187 |
| 8 | Missouri Western State University Saint Joseph Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $39,808 | 17 | 39% | — | $20,149 |
| 9 | Central Methodist University - College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Fayette Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $36,223 | 11 | 51% | $25,582 | $26,000 |
| 10 | Harris-Stowe State University Saint Louis Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,108 | 26 | 28% | — | $32,000 |
Top 5 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 | Jefferson College Hillsboro Public · Certificate | $61,641 | 41 | 38% | — | — |
| 2 | Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City Kansas City Public · Certificate | $48,137 | 20 | 34% | — | $4,821 |
| 3 | Mineral Area College Park Hills Public · Certificate | $45,217 | 52 | 49% | — | $9,500 |
| 4 | Drury University - College of Continuing Professional Studies Springfield Private not-for-profit · Certificate | $41,277 | 65 | 43% | $14,825 | $8,265 |
| 5 | Missouri Southern State University Joplin Public · Certificate | $34,058 | 143 | 42% | — | $18,649 |
Colleges awarding the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Missouri
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 | University of Central Missouri Warrensburg Public | 109 | $37,221 |
| 2 | Columbia College Columbia Private not-for-profit | 103 | $46,195 |
| 3 | Park University Parkville Private not-for-profit | 103 | $49,305 |
| 4 | Missouri State University - Springfield Springfield Public | 54 | Not reported |
| 5 | Southeast Missouri State University Cape Girardeau Public | 51 | $36,537 |
| 6 | Lindenwood University Saint Charles Private not-for-profit | 47 | $36,253 |
| 7 | Ozarks Technical Community College Springfield Public | 44 | Not reported |
| 8 | Saint Louis University Saint Louis Private not-for-profit | 37 | $45,709 |
| 9 | Webster University Saint Louis Private not-for-profit | 21 | Not reported |
| 10 | Crowder College Neosho Public | 18 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 29 Missouri 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 Missouri
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Missouri.
Which Missouri colleges award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees?+
University of Central Missouri (109 graduates a year), Columbia College (103 graduates a year) and Park University (103 graduates a year) award the most Criminal Justice and Corrections degrees in Missouri, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 39 Missouri colleges offer Criminal Justice and Corrections.
What is the best college for Criminal Justice and Corrections in Missouri?+
By graduate earnings, Park University leads among bachelor's Criminal Justice and Corrections programs in Missouri, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $49,305, College Scorecard. Columbia College and Saint Louis University follow. By degrees awarded, University of Central Missouri is the largest, with 109 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Criminal Justice and Corrections program in Missouri has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Park University tops the list at $49,305. 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 Missouri?+
The average annual wage for Correctional Officers and Jailers in Missouri is $46,230 (median $42,620), across about 6,670 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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