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2023 Most Popular Colleges for Criminology

226 Ranked Colleges
11,039 Degrees Awarded
$30,200 Avg Cost*
Most Well Attended Criminology Major

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Most Well Attended Criminology Major” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2020-2021, 11,039 people earned their degree in criminology, making the major the 76th most popular in the United States.

This year’s “Most Well Attended Criminology Major” ranking looked at 226 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in criminology. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have one of the most popular criminology programs in the United States.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Most Well Attended Criminology Major” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Most Well Attended Criminology Major

The following schools top our list of the Best “Most Well Attended Criminology Major”.

1

Out of the 226 schools in the Most Well Attended Criminology Major that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Irvine landed the #1 spot on the list. UC Irvine is located in Irvine, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 498 ’s criminology degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.

Read more about Criminology at University of California - Irvine

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of South Florida - Main Campus. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Criminology Major list. USF Tampa is a public institution located in Tampa, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 442 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Criminology at University of South Florida - Main Campus

3

Out of the 226 schools in the Most Well Attended Criminology Major that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Fresno landed the #3 spot on the list. Fresno State is located in Fresno, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 404 ’s criminology degrees to qualified students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Criminology at California State University - Fresno

4

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Maryland - College Park. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Criminology Major list. This large school is located in College Park, Maryland, and it awarded 346 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Criminology at University of Maryland - College Park

5
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Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, Arizona

Out of the 226 schools in the Most Well Attended Criminology Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Northern Arizona University landed the #5 spot on the list. This large school is located in Flagstaff, Arizona, and it awarded 284 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Criminology at NAU

6
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The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, Alabama

With a ranking of #6, The University of Alabama did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Criminology Major list. The University of Alabama is a large school located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama that handed out 269 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Read full report on Criminology at UA

7

California State University - San Marcos landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Criminology Major ranking. California State University - San Marcos is located in San Marcos, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 266 ’s criminology degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full CSUSM Criminology Report

8

John Jay College of Criminal Justice landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Criminology Major ranking. New York, New York is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s criminology degrees to 219 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full John Jay College of Criminal Justice Criminology Report

9
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Old Dominion University
Norfolk, Virginia

With a ranking of #9, Old Dominion University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Criminology Major list. Old Dominion is located in Norfolk, Virginia and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 211 ’s criminology degrees to qualified students.

Full Old Dominion University Criminology Report

10
Stockton State crest
Stockton University
Galloway, New Jersey

Stockton University landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Criminology Major ranking. Stockton State is a medium-sized public school situated in Galloway, New Jersey. It awarded 191 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Criminology at Stockton State

11

Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Criminology Major ranking, coming in at #11. Located in Indiana, Pennsylvania, this medium-sized public school handed out 190 degrees to qualified ’s criminology students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Criminology at Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus

12
Wazzu crest
Washington State University
Pullman, Washington

Washington State University ranked #12 on this year’s Most Well Attended Criminology Major list. Pullman, Washington is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s criminology degrees to 187 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Criminology at Washington State University

13
UF crest
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida

University of Florida landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Criminology Major ranking. Gainesville, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s criminology degrees to 179 students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Criminology at UF

14

University of Nevada - Reno landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Criminology Major ranking. UNR is a large public school situated in Reno, Nevada. It awarded 177 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Criminology at University of Nevada - Reno

15
GaSou crest
Georgia Southern University
Statesboro, Georgia

Georgia Southern University ranked #15 on this year’s Most Well Attended Criminology Major list. Located in Statesboro, Georgia, this large public school handed out 167 degrees to qualified ’s criminology students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Criminology at Georgia Southern University

16

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities ranked #16 on this year’s Most Well Attended Criminology Major list. This large school is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and it awarded 151 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Criminology Report

17

Ohio State University - Main Campus ranked #17 on this year’s Most Well Attended Criminology Major list. Ohio State is a large school located in Columbus, Ohio that handed out 147 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Criminology at Ohio State University - Main Campus

18

The University of Tampa came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Criminology Major ranking. The University of Tampa is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Tampa, Florida. It awarded 143 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Criminology at UT

19
UD crest
University of Delaware
Newark, Delaware

University of Delaware landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Criminology Major ranking. Newark, Delaware is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s criminology degrees to 138 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Criminology at UD

20

Missouri State University - Springfield came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Criminology Major ranking. Missouri State University - Springfield is a large public school situated in Springfield, Missouri. It awarded 139 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Missouri State Criminology Report

20
University of West Georgia crest
University of West Georgia
Carrollton, Georgia

University of West Georgia ranked #20 on this year’s Most Well Attended Criminology Major list. This fairly large school is located in Carrollton, Georgia, and it awarded 137 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Criminology at University of West Georgia

22
Indiana State crest
Indiana State University
Terre Haute, Indiana

Indiana State University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Criminology Major ranking, coming in at #22. Indiana State is located in Terre Haute, Indiana and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 136 ’s criminology degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on Criminology at Indiana State

23
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West Virginia University
Morgantown, West Virginia

West Virginia University ranked #23 on this year’s Most Well Attended Criminology Major list. This large school is located in Morgantown, West Virginia, and it awarded 134 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Criminology at West Virginia University

24
St. Joe's crest
Saint Joseph's University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

With a ranking of #24, Saint Joseph’s University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Criminology Major list. St. Joe’s is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It awarded 140 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full St. Joe’s Criminology Report

25
CCSU crest
Central Connecticut State University
New Britain, Connecticut

With a ranking of #25, Central Connecticut State University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Criminology Major list. This medium-sized school is located in New Britain, Connecticut, and it awarded 119 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Criminology at CCSU

Rest of the Best 34 in Most Well Attended Criminology Major

Not only did these schools make the top 34 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
27
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University of Rhode Island
Kingston, Rhode Island
28
29
30
Purdue University Global crest
Purdue University Global
Indianapolis, Indiana
31
Eastern Michigan crest
Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, Michigan
31
31
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University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa
34
Lasell crest
Lasell University
Newton, Massachusetts

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

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