Criminal Justice Schools in Iowa

Top Programs and Criminal Justice Degrees for Iowa Students

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.

DEGREE LEADERS: IOWA’S BEST CRIMINAL JUSTICE SCHOOLS

OUR METHODOLOGY +

To be considered for this ranking, schools were required to meet the following criteria: Accredited at the institutional level Private nonprofit or public school Minimum of 1 bachelor’s or master’s degree in subject area for 4-year schools Minimum of 1 associate degree or certificate program in subject area for 2-year schools Schools were then scored on factors such as: Cost & Financial Aid Number and variety of program offerings Student-teacher ratios Graduation rates (4-year schools only) Placement and support services offered Academic/Career counseling services Employment services Loan default rates These factors were assembled for each school and rated using a peer-based-value (PBV) calculation. PBV compares the cost of a program to the cost of other programs with the same (or similar) qualitative score and cost. PBV denotes the overall value or “bang for your buck” of a college or degree program.

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.

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.

Police, Sheriff & Highway Patrol Officers

Total Employed in Iowa5,280
Median Salary in Iowa$54,170
Degree Level Required in IowaAcademy Program

Correctional Officer

Total Employed in Iowa3,180
Median Salary in Iowa$49,190
Degree Level Required in IowaAcademy Program

Paralegal and Legal Assistant

Total Employed in Iowa2,310
Median Salary in Iowa$46,300
Degree Level Required in IowaAssociate

Compliance Officer

Total Employed in Iowa2,060
Median Salary in Iowa$58,310
Degree Level Required in IowaBachelor’s

Court, Municipal and License Clerks

Total Employed in Iowa1,840
Median Salary in Iowa$37,350
Degree Level Required in IowaCertificate

Probation Officer

Total Employed in Iowa540
Median Salary in Iowa$69,170
Degree Level Required in IowaVaries; up to Bachelor’s

Detectives and Criminal Investiagors

Total Employed in Iowa400
Median Salary in Iowa$74,400
Degree Level Required in IowaVaries; up to Associate

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.

Salary

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 Growth

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

TOP CRIMINAL JUSTICE EMPLOYMENT AREAS IN IOWA

With such diverse career options available for criminal justice program graduates, it may help interested students to see what parts of the state of Iowa are most in need of protective service or legal employees. The chart below outlines which cities and regions of Iowa criminal justice professionals work in and how their wages vary by their employment location.

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