by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 231 U.S. colleges awarded 10,920 degrees and certificates in Criminology. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 88% of graduates. College Factual ranks 160 schools in its 2027 Best Criminology Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $38,511 one year after completing, rising to $56,096 after four years.
Criminology is a major within the field of sociology that explores the behavior of criminals, causes of crime, and the criminal justice system that is in place today. Students who study this major gain a better understanding of why people choose to commit crimes, and what we can do to prevent and lower crime rates. Crime in our society, criminal psychology, and probation and the parole system are some subjects that will be discussed in class.
Classes you can expect to see while studying Criminology include: probation and parole; women and crime; social research; deviance; sociology; punishment; law; youth and crime; research methods; gender, crime, and justice; and policing society. You may have the opportunity to choose a concentration in Demography and Population studies.
A major in Criminology explores Criminology.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., criminology is a popular field of study, with 10,920 degrees awarded annually. 231 colleges award criminology degrees, an average of 47 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 468.
By level, the 10,920 awards include 203 associate degrees, 9,590 bachelor’s degrees, 1,075 master’s degrees and 52 doctorates.
Women earned 70% of criminology degrees and certificates in the latest year (7,651 of 10,920). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (5,775) and Hispanic or Latino (2,667), and international students earned 196.
College Factual ranks 160 schools in its 2027 Best Criminology Schools ranking, including 5 for associate degrees, 146 for bachelor’s degrees and 26 for master’s degrees. It also ranks criminology schools within 41 states. In all, 231 colleges offer criminology programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Criminology Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common criminology credential is the bachelor’s degree: 9,590 of the 10,920 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to criminology call most for Reading Comprehension, Active Listening and Critical Thinking, and for knowledge of English Language, Education and Training and Administration and Management, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Written Comprehension.
This major involves classes in the subjects of law, psychology, and society. The goal is for students to gain an understanding of criminal laws and policy. You will be required to study course cases, analyze data and utilize various research methods. Be prepared to work with your peers on group projects and presentations. Strong communication skills will help you succeed.
Critical thinking, reading, and writing skills will help you read, retain and report vast amounts of data and information. You will spend time writing research papers as well as applying theories learned from class to real life situations. Your writing and presentation skills should be clear and detailed. Many colleges will require you to complete an internship in the field before graduation.
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How long a criminology degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 203 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 9,590 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,075 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 52 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to criminology, at 40.8%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 40.8% |
| Post-doctoral training | 19.8% |
| Master’s degree | 8.4% |
| Doctoral degree | 7.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 7.0% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 6.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.8% |
| Some college courses | 2.9% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.5% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.3% |
| First professional degree | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
15 occupations are related to Criminology, with an average median salary of $98,576; the strongest outlook belongs to Compliance Managers, at 13.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Compliance Director, System Operation Superintendent, Body Shop Manager and Chancery Clerk.
Criminologists study crime and social behaviors and deviations from social norms. Within criminology you can work in corrections, counseling, criminal investigation, diversion programming, teaching, research and policy studies, intervention programs, and private investigation. Many criminologists have a minimum of a Master's Degree.
The occupation related to criminology with the most projected jobs is Managers, All Other, at 468,025.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
| Loss Prevention Managers | 265,210 | 2.2% |
| Clinical Neuropsychologists | 216,013 | 8.9% |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | 206,415 | 9.9% |
| Neuropsychologists | 186,493 | 6.5% |
| Sociologists | 143,776 | 3.0% |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | 128,884 | 5.2% |
Criminology graduates earn a median $38,511 one year after completing their program, $56,096 after four years and $54,549 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $38,511 |
| 4 years | $56,096 |
| 5 years | $54,549 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to criminology is Wind Energy Development Managers, with a median salary of $169,952.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| Remote Sensing Technicians | $99,834 |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | $99,321 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $95,957 |
| Managers, All Other | $95,684 |
Criminology includes 1 concentration; by graduates, the largest is Criminology (10,920). It has 13 similar majors in the Social Sciences field, which together award 177,276 degrees a year; the largest are Economics (48,196), Political Science and Government (45,425) and Sociology (30,816). Browse all Social Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Criminology | 10,920 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Economics | 48,196 |
| Political Science and Government | 45,425 |
| Sociology | 30,816 |
| Social Sciences, General | 17,558 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | 12,780 |
| Anthropology | 10,836 |
| Geography and Cartography | 7,459 |
| Social Sciences, Other | 1,820 |
| Urban Studies/Affairs | 1,300 |
| Sociology and Anthropology | 574 |
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