Criminal Justice Schools in Iowa
A degree in criminal justice can provide career opportunities in federal, state and local government or the private sector. For students looking to gain a better understanding of criminology, criminal justice schools in Iowa equip students with the necessary skills for careers in corrections, homeland security, law and wildlife enforcement services.
Iowa is even home to the nation’s oldest law school west of the Mississippi River. Learn more about the educational and training opportunities offered at criminal justice schools in Iowa, as well as the types of training and degree level required to work in the criminal justice field across the state.
Best Criminal Justice Schools in Iowa
In comparing the top criminal justice schools in Iowa side-by-side, students are able to see examples of what they want to look for in a program. This list takes the guesswork out of tedious research; using the most important factors to students – such as tuition cost, student-teacher ratios and number of criminal justice programs -Iowa’s criminal justice schools are ranked from top to bottom. Find more about each program and the factors that help dictate each school’s score below.
Saint Ambrose University
Davenport, IA- 2 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$34,290
- Out-of-state$34,290
- In-State$19,040
- Out-of-state$19,040
- Retention Rate79%
- Acceptance Rate74%
- Students Enrolled2,749
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment8%
- AccreditationYes
Upper Iowa University
- Fayette, IA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$32,589
- Out-of-state$32,589
- In-State$18,870
- Out-of-state$18,870
- Retention Rate57%
- Acceptance Rate54%
- Students Enrolled3,072
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment80%
- AccreditationYes
Simpson College
- Indianola, IA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$44,202
- Out-of-state$44,202
- In-State$6,526
- Out-of-state$6,526
- Retention Rate78%
- Acceptance Rate89%
- Students Enrolled1,151
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment27%
- AccreditationYes
University of Dubuque
- Dubuque, IA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$36,800
- Out-of-state$36,800
- In-State$7,440
- Out-of-state$7,440
- Retention Rate71%
- Acceptance Rate85%
- Students Enrolled1,777
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment17%
- AccreditationYes
Iowa Wesleyan University
- Mount Pleasant, IA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$33,550
- Out-of-state$33,550
- In-State$6,420
- Out-of-state$6,420
- Retention Rate54%
- Acceptance Rate81%
- Students Enrolled871
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment40%
- AccreditationYes
Iowa’s Most Popular Criminal Justice Careers
There are a range of employment opportunities and career paths students interested in attending criminal justice school in Iowa can pursue. Take a look at some of the most common careers criminal justice students pursue in the state in the list below. For more details on the type of degree each career requires, click on the corner of each box.
Students will also find more details about the number of employees found in each profession and their average salary in the state of Iowa. This may be a helpful gauge for students who are still deciding exactly what to focus their studies on while in criminal justice school.
Side by Side: Criminal Justice in Iowa Versus National Numbers
As a state that boasted one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation in 2015, students attending criminal justice school in Iowa can see positive career potential as they prepare to enter the workforce. Take a look at the graphs below, which pinpoint the careers in criminal justice in Iowa that boast competitive annual salaries in comparison to the national average, as well as higher than average or on-par job growth projections. These charts also detail the degree requirements to work in Iowa to give criminal justice students a distinct study path.
| Job | National | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Fraud Examiner | 57,100 | 64,300 |
| Private Detective, Investigator | 44,930 | 52,840 |
| Forensic Science Technician | 60,090 | 64,910 |
| Arbitrator, Mediator, Conciliator | 65,020 | 69,060 |
| Detective, Criminal Investigator | 77,040 | 79,620 |
| Transportation Security Screener | 37,810 | 40,050 |
| Criminal Justice Professor | 63,530 | 64,460 |
| Security Guard | 28,460 | 31,730 |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015
| Job | National | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Police, Sherrif, Patrol Officer | 0.05 | 0.066 |
| Correctional Officer | 0.037 | 0.042 |
| Paralegal | 0.076 | 0.101 |
| Detective, Criminal Investigator | -0.012 | 0.009 |
| Private Detective, Investigator | 0.052 | 0.08 |
| Court Clerk | 0.045 | 0.046 |
| Probation Officer | 0.036 | 0.05 |
| Criminal Justice Professor | 0.212 | 0.213 |
Source: Projections Central, 2015
Largest Areas of Employment in Descending Order
Protective service
- Council Bluffs Metro Area
- Des Moines
- Southeast Iowa Non-Metro Area
- Cedar Rapids
- Northwest Iowa Non-Metro
Legal service
- Council Bluffs Metro Area
- Des Moines
- Cedar Rapids
- Southeast Iowa Non-Metro Area
- Northwest Iowa Non-Metro
