by our College Data Analytics Team
[Criminology](/majors/social-sciences/criminology/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. The schools below stand out for the salaries their criminology graduates go on to command.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 10 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.
Leading the list is Bowling Green State University Main Campus, our #1 for criminology graduate salaries in Ohio. Set in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a public institution. After graduating, criminology degree recipients from Bowling Green State University Main Campus typically earn about $57,019 annually.
Ohio State University Main Campus produces some of the highest-paid graduates in criminology, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a public institution. Criminology graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of about $57,464 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #3 makes Ohio State University Mansfield Campus one of the highest-paying schools for criminology. Set in the rural area of Mansfield, Ohio State University Mansfield Campus is a public institution. Early-career criminology graduates from Ohio State University Mansfield Campus make a median of around $57,464 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in criminology will find them at Tiffin University, which ranked #4. Located in the town of Tiffin, Tiffin University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career criminology graduates from Tiffin University make a median of around $52,914 per year.
Capital University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in criminology, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Columbus, Capital University is a private not-for-profit institution. Criminology graduates of Capital University earn a median of about $59,750 a year early in their careers.
University Of Akron Main Campus landed the #6 spot for criminology salaries this year. Set in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a public institution. Criminology graduates of University Of Akron Main Campus earn a median of about $49,092 a year early in their careers.
College Of Mount St Joseph came in at #7 for criminology graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Cincinnati, College Of Mount St Joseph is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the criminology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $42,457.
Wright State University Lake Campus placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for criminology. Wright State University Lake Campus is a public school located in the rural area of Celina. 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 #9 for criminology graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Dayton, Wright State University Main Campus is a public institution. Students who complete the criminology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $47,650.
Cleveland State University earned the #10 position for criminology graduate earnings this year. Cleveland State University is a public school located in the city of Cleveland. Students who complete the criminology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $52,416.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their criminology graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 10 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.