by our College Data Analytics Team
[Criminology](/majors/social-sciences/criminology/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The highest-paying schools turn a criminology degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 21 schools on the early-career earnings of their criminology graduates.
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If you want to know which schools send criminology graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked University Of Wisconsin Stout the top school for criminology graduate earnings in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the town of Menomonie, University Of Wisconsin Stout is a public institution. After graduating, criminology degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Stout typically earn about $49,004 annually.
A rank of #2 makes Lakeland College one of the highest-paying schools for criminology. Lakeland College is a private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Plymouth. Early-career criminology graduates from Lakeland College make a median of around $51,709 per year.
A rank of #3 makes Ohio State University Main Campus one of the highest-paying schools for criminology. Ohio State University Main Campus is a public school located in the city of Columbus. Early-career criminology graduates from Ohio State University Main Campus make a median of around $57,464 per year.
A rank of #4 makes Ohio State University Mansfield Campus one of the highest-paying schools for criminology. Ohio State University Mansfield Campus is a public school located in the rural area of Mansfield. After graduating, criminology degree recipients from Ohio State University Mansfield Campus typically earn about $57,464 annually.
University Of Wisconsin Whitewater produces some of the highest-paid graduates in criminology, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the town of Whitewater, University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a public institution. Students who complete the criminology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $54,285.
University Of Wisconsin River Falls earned the #6 position for criminology graduate earnings this year. University Of Wisconsin River Falls is a public school located in the town of River Falls. After graduating, criminology degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin River Falls typically earn about $45,113 annually.
Marquette University placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for criminology. Set in the city of Milwaukee, Marquette University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, criminology degree recipients from Marquette University typically earn about $58,887 annually.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale earned the #8 position for criminology graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public institution. Students who complete the criminology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $55,612.
Butler University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying criminology schools. Butler University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Indianapolis. After graduating, criminology degree recipients from Butler University typically earn about $44,373 annually.
Eastern Michigan University landed the #10 spot for criminology salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University is a public institution. After graduating, criminology degree recipients from Eastern Michigan University typically earn about $55,482 annually.
Indiana State University placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for criminology. Indiana State University is a public school located in the city of Terre Haute. Students who complete the criminology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $50,821.
Capital University placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for criminology. Set in the suburb of Columbus, Capital University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career criminology graduates from Capital University make a median of around $59,750 per year.
Valparaiso University came in at #13 for criminology graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Valparaiso, Valparaiso University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, criminology degree recipients from Valparaiso University typically earn about $61,772 annually.
University Of Akron Main Campus came in at #14 for criminology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a public institution. After graduating, criminology degree recipients from University Of Akron Main Campus typically earn about $49,092 annually.
College Of Mount St Joseph placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for criminology. Set in the suburb of Cincinnati, College Of Mount St Joseph is a private not-for-profit institution. Criminology graduates of College Of Mount St Joseph earn a median of about $42,457 a year early in their careers.
Concordia University Chicago earned the #16 position for criminology graduate earnings this year. Concordia University Chicago is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of River Forest. After graduating, criminology degree recipients from Concordia University Chicago typically earn about $41,724 annually.
Wright State University Lake Campus came in at #17 for criminology graduate earnings this year. Set in the rural area of Celina, Wright State University Lake Campus is a public institution. Criminology graduates of Wright State University Lake Campus earn a median of about $47,650 a year early in their careers.
Wright State University Main Campus came in at #18 for criminology graduate earnings this year. Wright State University Main Campus is a public school located in the suburb of Dayton. Students who complete the criminology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $47,650.
Cleveland State University placed #19 among the highest-paying schools for criminology. Cleveland State University is a public school located in the city of Cleveland. Early-career criminology graduates from Cleveland State University make a median of around $52,416 per year.
Dominican University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying criminology schools. Dominican University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of River Forest. After graduating, criminology degree recipients from Dominican University typically earn about $51,128 annually.
National Louis University placed #21 among the highest-paying schools for criminology. Located in the city of Chicago, National Louis University is a private not-for-profit institution. Criminology graduates of National Louis University earn a median of about $30,170 a year early in their careers.
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries criminology graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 21 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.