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2023 Best Value Colleges for Criminology (With Aid)

133 Ranked Colleges
11,039 Degrees Awarded
$13,600 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Criminology Schools For Those Getting Aid

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Criminology Schools For Those Getting Aid” ranking.

Criminology is the 80th most popular major in the country with 11,039 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, criminology graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $33,568 and had an average of $24,453 in loans still to pay off.

This year’s “Best Value Criminology Schools For Those Getting Aid” ranking analyzed 133 colleges that offered a degree in criminology. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent criminology programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the criminology program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Criminology Schools

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Criminology Schools For Those Getting Aid” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Criminology Schools For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for criminology students with aid.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Criminology (With Aid)

1

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend John Jay College of Criminal Justice. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Criminology Schools For Those Getting Aid. This fairly large school is located in New York, New York, and it awarded 219 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $2,699 for Criminology students with aid per year to attend John Jay.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full John Jay Criminology Report

2
UF crest
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Florida. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Criminology Schools For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Gainesville, Florida, and it awarded 179 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.

UF did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Criminology Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for UF is $5,135 for criminology students with aid.

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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.

Read full report on Criminology at University of Florida

3

Out of the 133 schools in the Best Value Criminology Schools For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Fresno landed the #3 spot on the list. This large school is located in Fresno, California, and it awarded 404 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.

Fresno State also took the #21 spot in our “Best Criminology Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Fresno State is $6,230 for criminology students with aid.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.2% 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%.

Read full report on Criminology at California State University - Fresno

4

Out of the 133 schools in the Best Value Criminology Schools For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of South Florida - Main Campus landed the #4 spot on the list. Tampa, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s criminology degrees to 442 students in 2020-2021.

USF Tampa also took the #7 spot in our “Best Criminology Schools” ranking. It costs about $8,346 for criminology students with aid per year to attend University of South Florida - Main Campus.

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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%.

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

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Irvine. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Criminology Schools For Those Getting Aid. 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.

UC Irvine did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Criminology Schools” list. It costs about $12,209 for Criminology students with aid per year to attend UC Irvine.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, 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 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UC Irvine Criminology Report

6

University of Maryland - College Park landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Criminology Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in College Park, Maryland, and it awarded 346 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.

UMCP also made our “Best Criminology Schools” list, coming in at #2. The yearly cost to attend UMCP is $18,048 for Criminology students with aid.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Criminology at University of Maryland - College Park

7

University of Missouri - St Louis did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Criminology Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #7. University of Missouri - St Louis is a public institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 107 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend UMSL is $12,232 for criminology students with aid.

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 full report on Criminology at UMSL

8

The University of Texas at Dallas did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Criminology Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #8. UT Dallas is a large school located in Richardson, Texas that handed out 74 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.

On top of its placing in this ranking, UT Dallas also did well on our “Best Criminology Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Criminology Schools” list. It costs about $15,526 for Criminology students with aid per year to attend The University of Texas at Dallas.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.8% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%.

Full The University of Texas at Dallas Criminology Report

9
UD crest
University of Delaware
Newark, Delaware

University of Delaware ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Criminology Schools For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Newark, Delaware, this large public school awarded 138 diplomas to qualified ’s criminology students in 2020-2021.

UD did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Criminology Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Delaware is $18,967 for Criminology students with aid.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Criminology at UD

10
NAU crest
Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, Arizona

With a ranking of #10, Northern Arizona University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Criminology Schools For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Flagstaff, Arizona, this large public school awarded 284 diplomas to qualified ’s criminology students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at NAU, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Criminology Schools” ranking. It costs about $14,308 for Criminology students with aid per year to attend Northern Arizona University.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.6% 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 NAU Criminology Report

11

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Criminology Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #11. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s criminology degrees to 151 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMN Twin Cities, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Criminology Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UMN Twin Cities is $17,878 for criminology students with aid.

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%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Criminology at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

12

Central New Mexico Community College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminology Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. CNM is located in Albuquerque, New Mexico and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 81 ’s criminology degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend CNM is $3,322 for criminology students with aid.

Read full report on Criminology at Central New Mexico Community College

13

With a ranking of #13, California State University - San Marcos did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Criminology Schools For Those Getting Aid list. CSUSM is a fairly large public school situated in San Marcos, California. It awarded 266 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend CSUSM is $13,218 for Criminology students with aid.

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%.

Read full report on Criminology at CSUSM

14

University of Nevada - Reno ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Criminology Schools For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Reno, Nevada, this large public school handed out 177 diplomas to qualified ’s criminology students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNR, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Criminology Schools” ranking. It costs about $14,930 for Criminology students with aid per year to attend University of Nevada - Reno.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% 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 University of Nevada - Reno Criminology Report

15

University of Houston - Clear Lake came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminology Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. Houston, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s criminology degrees to 47 students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend University of Houston - Clear Lake is $15,001 for criminology students with aid.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UH Clear Lake Criminology Report

16

University of Wisconsin - River Falls ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Criminology Schools For Those Getting Aid list. Located in River Falls, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school awarded 41 degrees to qualified ’s criminology students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - River Falls is $13,844 for Criminology students with aid.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UW - River Falls Criminology Report

17
Iowa crest
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa

University of Iowa landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Best Value Criminology Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. Iowa is located in Iowa City, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 97 ’s criminology degrees to qualified students.

Iowa also took the #12 spot in our “Best Criminology Schools” ranking. It costs about $19,401 for criminology students with aid per year to attend University of Iowa.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.

Read full report on Criminology at University of Iowa

18
U of U crest
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah

University of Utah landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Best Value Criminology Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. Salt Lake City, Utah is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s criminology degrees to 124 students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $13,572 for criminology students with aid per year to attend University of Utah.

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%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Criminology at University of Utah

19
Indiana State crest
Indiana State University
Terre Haute, Indiana

Indiana State University landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value Criminology Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Terre Haute, Indiana, this medium-sized public school awarded 136 diplomas to qualified ’s criminology students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Indiana State is $14,270 for criminology students with aid.

Read more about Criminology at Indiana State

20

With a ranking of #20, University of Wisconsin - Whitewater did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Criminology Schools For Those Getting Aid list. University of Wisconsin - Whitewater is a fairly large school located in Whitewater, Wisconsin that handed out 74 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend UW - Whitewater is $14,417 for criminology students with aid.

Read full report on Criminology at UW - Whitewater

21
SUNY Old Westbury crest
SUNY Old Westbury
Old Westbury, New York

SUNY Old Westbury ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Criminology Schools For Those Getting Aid list. This small school is located in Old Westbury, New York, and it awarded 54 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend SUNY Old Westbury is $10,182 for criminology students with aid.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full SUNY Old Westbury Criminology Report

22
UPenn crest
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

University of Pennsylvania came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminology Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s criminology degrees to 46 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UPenn, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Criminology Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UPenn is $25,046 for criminology students with aid.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full University of Pennsylvania Criminology Report

23

Ohio State University - Main Campus ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Criminology Schools For Those Getting Aid list. Columbus, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s criminology degrees to 147 students in 2020-2021.

Ohio State also took the #9 spot in our “Best Criminology Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Ohio State is $16,845 for Criminology students with aid.

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 full report on Criminology at Ohio State

24

University of Minnesota - Duluth landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Best Value Criminology Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. UMN Duluth is a public institution located in Duluth, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 46 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

UMN Duluth did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Criminology Schools” list. It costs about $18,505 for criminology students with aid per year to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Criminology at UMN Duluth

25

Missouri State University - Springfield ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Criminology Schools For Those Getting Aid list. Springfield, Missouri is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s criminology degrees to 139 students in 2020-2021.

Missouri State also took the #22 spot in our “Best Criminology Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Missouri State University - Springfield is $16,718 for criminology students with aid.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Criminology at Missouri State University - Springfield

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

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