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2026 Best Criminology Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

28 Colleges in the United States
1,591 Criminology Degrees Awarded
$46,764 Avg Early-Career Salary

Criminology degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 48 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for criminology students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

Best Schools for Criminology in the Middle Atlantic Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall criminology education in the Middle Atlantic Region.

Top Schools in Criminology

1

Our analysis ranked University Of Maryland College Park the best school in the country for a degree in criminology. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. About 89% of students finish within six years. University Of Maryland College Park awarded about 338 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $43,698. University Of Maryland College Park graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. See the full criminology program report for University Of Maryland College Park

2
University Of Pennsylvania crest
University Of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA

Students looking for a strong criminology program will find one at University Of Pennsylvania, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 41 criminology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $99,682. Typical student debt for the program is $16,155. More information about a degree in criminology from University Of Pennsylvania

3

George Washington University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminology, landing the #3 spot this year. George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. George Washington University graduates 84% of students within six years. There were roughly 10 criminology students who graduated with this degree at George Washington University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminology degree from George Washington University earn around $73,749 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,910. Read more about the criminology program at George Washington University

4

Students looking for a strong criminology program will find one at University Of Delaware, which ranked #4. University Of Delaware is a very large public school located in the suburb of Newark. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. University Of Delaware awarded about 88 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Criminology graduates of University Of Delaware earn a median of $35,968 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,685 to complete this degree. Get the full criminology details for University Of Delaware

5

Students looking for a strong criminology program will find one at Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice, which ranked #5. This large public university is located in the city of New York. About 56% of students finish within six years. About 165 criminology degrees were awarded at Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $33,798 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete this degree. Get the full criminology details for Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice

6

University At Buffalo came in at #6 for criminology this year. Set in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. About 85 criminology degrees were awarded at University At Buffalo in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from University At Buffalo generally make around $52,403. Students borrow a median of $22,232 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in criminology from University At Buffalo

7
Wilkes University crest
Wilkes University
Wilkes-Barre, PA

Wilkes University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best criminology schools. Set in the city of Wilkes-Barre, Wilkes University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. Wilkes University awarded about 12 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminology degree from Wilkes University earn around $64,004 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,601 to complete this degree. See the full criminology program report for Wilkes University

8

Pennsylvania Western University came in at #8 for criminology this year. This large public university is located in the town of California. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. Pennsylvania Western University awarded about 119 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Read more about the criminology program at Pennsylvania Western University

9
Saint Josephs University crest
Saint Josephs University
Philadelphia, PA

Saint Josephs University came in at #9 for criminology this year. Saint Josephs University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. There were roughly 38 criminology students who graduated with this degree at Saint Josephs University in the most recent data year. Criminology graduates of Saint Josephs University earn a median of $48,934 early in their careers. Saint Josephs University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminology from Saint Josephs University

10
Villanova University crest
Villanova University
Villanova, PA

Villanova University earned the #10 position for criminology this year. Villanova University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Villanova. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. Villanova University awarded about 15 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $72,601 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,184. Get the full criminology details for Villanova University

11
Hofstra University crest
Hofstra University
Hempstead, NY

Hofstra University landed the #11 spot for criminology this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Hempstead. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 25 criminology students who graduated with this degree at Hofstra University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $35,249 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000. Get the full criminology details for Hofstra University

12

Suny College At Cortland placed #12 among the best criminology schools. Suny College At Cortland is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Cortland. Suny College At Cortland graduates 68% of students within six years. Suny College At Cortland awarded about 48 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Criminology graduates of Suny College At Cortland earn a median of $34,768 early in their careers. Suny College At Cortland graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. See the full criminology program report for Suny College At Cortland

13

Catholic University Of America earned the #13 position for criminology this year. Set in the city of Washington, Catholic University Of America is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 80% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 11 criminology students who graduated with this degree at Catholic University Of America in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminology degree from Catholic University Of America earn around $65,120 in the first couple years of their career. Catholic University Of America graduates carry a median of $25,771 in student loans. Get the full criminology details for Catholic University Of America

14

Suny College At Old Westbury came in at #14 for criminology this year. Located in the suburb of Old Westbury, Suny College At Old Westbury is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 45%. About 53 criminology degrees were awarded at Suny College At Old Westbury in the most recent year. Criminology graduates of Suny College At Old Westbury earn a median of $38,764 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,800 to complete this degree. Read more about the criminology program at Suny College At Old Westbury

15

Mount St Marys University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best criminology schools. Located in the rural area of Emmitsburg, Mount St Marys University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 65% of students finish within six years. About 33 criminology degrees were awarded at Mount St Marys University in the most recent year. Criminology graduates of Mount St Marys University earn a median of $43,230 early in their careers. Mount St Marys University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminology from Mount St Marys University

16
Drexel University crest
Drexel University
Philadelphia, PA

Drexel University came in at #16 for criminology this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Drexel University graduates 78% of students within six years. Drexel University awarded about 18 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Criminology graduates of Drexel University earn a median of $40,229 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. More information about a degree in criminology from Drexel University

17

Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham earned the #17 position for criminology this year. Located in the suburb of Madison, Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham graduates 66% of students within six years. About 25 criminology degrees were awarded at Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminology degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham earn around $37,619 in the first couple years of their career. Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. See the full criminology program report for Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham

18
Niagara University crest
Niagara University
Niagara University, NY

Niagara University earned the #18 position for criminology this year. Set in the suburb of Niagara University, Niagara University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 74% of students finish within six years. Niagara University awarded about 61 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $36,781 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. See the full criminology program report for Niagara University

19
Le Moyne College crest
Le Moyne College
Syracuse, NY

Le Moyne College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best criminology schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Syracuse. The six-year graduation rate is 73%. There were roughly 13 criminology students who graduated with this degree at Le Moyne College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminology degree from Le Moyne College earn around $57,229 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the criminology program at Le Moyne College

20

Saint John Fisher College landed the #20 spot for criminology this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Rochester. About 74% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 20 criminology students who graduated with this degree at Saint John Fisher College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $33,623 in their early career. Saint John Fisher College graduates carry a median of $24,750 in student loans. Get the full criminology details for Saint John Fisher College

21

Suny College Of Technology At Canton earned the #21 position for criminology this year. Located in the town of Canton, Suny College Of Technology At Canton is a mid-sized public university. Suny College Of Technology At Canton graduates 42% of students within six years. There were roughly 24 criminology students who graduated with this degree at Suny College Of Technology At Canton in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminology degree from Suny College Of Technology At Canton earn around $46,515 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,640 to complete this degree. Get the full criminology details for Suny College Of Technology At Canton

22

Lebanon Valley College placed #22 among the best criminology schools. Set in the suburb of Annville, Lebanon Valley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Lebanon Valley College graduates 65% of students within six years. There were roughly 15 criminology students who graduated with this degree at Lebanon Valley College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Lebanon Valley College generally make around $38,828. Typical student debt for the program is $26,767. Get the full criminology details for Lebanon Valley College

23

Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania came in at #23 for criminology this year. Set in the town of Slippery Rock, Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. There were roughly 42 criminology students who graduated with this degree at Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $36,276. Students borrow a median of $25,990 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in criminology from Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania

24
Lycoming College crest
Lycoming College
Williamsport, PA

Lycoming College earned the #24 position for criminology this year. Lycoming College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Williamsport. About 60% of students finish within six years. Lycoming College awarded about 38 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Criminology graduates of Lycoming College earn a median of $40,646 early in their careers. Lycoming College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminology from Lycoming College

25

Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus came in at #25 for criminology this year. Set in the town of Indiana, Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus is a large public institution. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 128 criminology students who graduated with this degree at Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus generally make around $41,866. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. See the full criminology program report for Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus

Rest of the Top 31 Criminology Schools

Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong criminology education:

26
Saint Bonaventure University crest
Saint Bonaventure University
Saint Bonaventure, NY
27
28
Arcadia University crest
Arcadia University
Glenside, PA
29
30
Cedar Crest College crest
Cedar Crest College
Allentown, PA
31

View All Criminology Rankings >

Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 48 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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