by our College Data Analytics Team
[Criminology](/majors/social-sciences/criminology/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The highest-paying schools turn a criminology degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 3 schools on the early-career earnings of their criminology graduates.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose criminology graduates go on to earn the most.
Leading the list is Lindenwood University, our #1 for criminology graduate salaries in Missouri. Set in the city of Saint Charles, Lindenwood University is a private not-for-profit institution. Criminology graduates of Lindenwood University earn a median of about $59,517 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Missouri St Louis one of the highest-paying schools for criminology. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, University Of Missouri St Louis is a public institution. After graduating, criminology degree recipients from University Of Missouri St Louis typically earn about $50,009 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in criminology will find them at Missouri State University Springfield, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a public institution. After graduating, criminology degree recipients from Missouri State University Springfield typically earn about $48,173 annually.
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 · 3 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.