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 11 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.
Villanova University earned the #1 spot for highest-paid criminology graduates in Pennsylvania. Villanova University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Villanova. After graduating, criminology degree recipients from Villanova University typically earn about $74,408 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Lebanon Valley College earned it the #2 place for criminology. Lebanon Valley College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Annville. Criminology graduates of Lebanon Valley College earn a median of about $69,387 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #3 makes Albright College one of the highest-paying schools for criminology. Located in the city of Reading, Albright College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the criminology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $50,848.
Saint Josephs University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying criminology schools. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Saint Josephs University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career criminology graduates from Saint Josephs University make a median of around $67,957 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in criminology will find them at Cedar Crest College, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Allentown, Cedar Crest College is a private not-for-profit institution. Criminology graduates of Cedar Crest College earn a median of about $46,299 a year early in their careers.
Lycoming College came in at #6 for criminology graduate earnings this year. Lycoming College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Williamsport. Early-career criminology graduates from Lycoming College make a median of around $50,594 per year.
Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying criminology schools. Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus is a public school located in the town of Indiana. Criminology graduates of Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus earn a median of about $53,147 a year early in their careers.
Saint Vincent College landed the #8 spot for criminology salaries this year. Saint Vincent College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Latrobe. Criminology graduates of Saint Vincent College earn a median of about $53,538 a year early in their careers.
Arcadia University earned the #9 position for criminology graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Glenside, Arcadia University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, criminology degree recipients from Arcadia University typically earn about $51,702 annually.
Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania came in at #10 for criminology graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Slippery Rock, Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania is a public institution. Criminology graduates of Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of about $46,885 a year early in their careers.
Drexel University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying criminology schools. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a private not-for-profit institution. Criminology graduates of Drexel University earn a median of about $40,229 a year early in their careers.
This list is compiled 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 · 11 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.