Criminology is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 160 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for criminology students pursuing a degree.
Where you study criminology matters for your future. To help, we created our Best Criminology Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
We offer several rankings, including this Best Criminology Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
University Of Wisconsin Madison tops our 2027 ranking of the best criminology schools. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. About 90% of students finish within six years. University Of Wisconsin Madison awarded about 249 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $59,877 in their early career. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates carry a median of $21,813 in student loans.
Get the full criminology details for University Of Wisconsin Madison
University Of Pennsylvania is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminology, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 34 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $99,682. University Of Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $16,155 in student loans.
See the full criminology program report for University Of Pennsylvania
University Of Maryland College Park is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminology, ranking #3. This very large public university is located in the suburb of College Park. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 361 criminology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $43,698 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
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A rank of #4 makes University Of Minnesota Twin Cities one of the top schools for criminology. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. About 85% of students finish within six years. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities awarded about 114 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Criminology graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $41,780 early in their careers. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans.
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University Of California Irvine came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best criminology schools. University Of California Irvine is a very large public school located in the city of Irvine. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. There were roughly 380 criminology students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Irvine in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $47,792 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,865 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminology from University Of California Irvine
Ohio State University Main Campus earned the #6 position for criminology this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Columbus. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. About 142 criminology degrees were awarded at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $39,396. Typical student debt for the program is $21,922.
Read more about the criminology program at Ohio State University Main Campus
University Of New Hampshire Main Campus placed #7 among the best criminology schools. This large public university is located in the town of Durham. University Of New Hampshire Main Campus graduates 76% of students within six years. About 10 criminology degrees were awarded at University Of New Hampshire Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminology degree from University Of New Hampshire Main Campus earn around $39,814 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Read more about the criminology program at University Of New Hampshire Main Campus
University Of Utah came in at #8 for criminology this year. University Of Utah is a very large public school located in the city of Salt Lake City. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 198 criminology degrees were awarded at University Of Utah in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from University Of Utah generally make around $60,527. Students borrow a median of $20,798 to complete this degree.
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University Of Florida earned the #9 position for criminology this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Gainesville. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. About 184 criminology degrees were awarded at University Of Florida in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminology degree from University Of Florida earn around $35,096 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Florida graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans.
See the full criminology program report for University Of Florida
University Of Delaware ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best criminology schools. University Of Delaware is a very large public school located in the suburb of Newark. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. About 139 criminology degrees were awarded at University Of Delaware in the most recent year. Criminology graduates of University Of Delaware earn a median of $35,968 early in their careers. University Of Delaware graduates carry a median of $23,685 in student loans.
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North Carolina State University At Raleigh came in at #11 for criminology this year. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates 85% of students within six years. About 80 criminology degrees were awarded at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminology degree from North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn around $35,076 in the first couple years of their career. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates carry a median of $21,875 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminology from North Carolina State University At Raleigh
Gonzaga University landed the #12 spot for criminology this year. Located in the city of Spokane, Gonzaga University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. Gonzaga University awarded about 36 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminology degree from Gonzaga University earn around $38,028 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,994.
More information about a degree in criminology from Gonzaga University
University Of Iowa landed the #13 spot for criminology this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Iowa City. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. There were roughly 77 criminology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Iowa in the most recent data year. Criminology graduates of University Of Iowa earn a median of $38,520 early in their careers. University Of Iowa graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminology from University Of Iowa
University Of Miami earned the #14 position for criminology this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Coral Gables. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. About 45 criminology degrees were awarded at University Of Miami in the most recent year. Criminology graduates of University Of Miami earn a median of $29,670 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,500.
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California State Polytechnic University Pomona earned the #15 position for criminology this year. Located in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public university. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 77 criminology students who graduated with this degree at California State Polytechnic University Pomona in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $49,427 in their early career. California State Polytechnic University Pomona graduates carry a median of $17,226 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminology from California State Polytechnic University Pomona
Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice landed the #16 spot for criminology this year. Set in the city of New York, Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public institution. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 224 criminology degrees were awarded at Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice in the most recent year. Criminology graduates of Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice earn a median of $33,798 early in their careers. Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminology from Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice
University At Buffalo earned the #17 position for criminology this year. University At Buffalo is a very large public school located in the suburb of Buffalo. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 116 criminology students who graduated with this degree at University At Buffalo in the most recent data year. Criminology graduates of University At Buffalo earn a median of $52,403 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,232 to complete this degree.
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The University Of Texas At Dallas came in at #18 for criminology this year. The University Of Texas At Dallas is a very large public school located in the city of Richardson. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. About 92 criminology degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Dallas in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminology degree from The University Of Texas At Dallas earn around $40,603 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
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Washington State University ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best criminology schools. This very large public university is located in the town of Pullman. About 60% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 143 criminology students who graduated with this degree at Washington State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminology degree from Washington State University earn around $54,697 in the first couple years of their career. Washington State University graduates carry a median of $21,903 in student loans.
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University Of Minnesota Duluth came in at #20 for criminology this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Duluth. About 65% of students finish within six years. About 51 criminology degrees were awarded at University Of Minnesota Duluth in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Duluth generally make around $42,562. Typical student debt for the program is $23,887.
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California State University San Marcos ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best criminology schools. California State University San Marcos is a large public school located in the suburb of San Marcos. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. California State University San Marcos awarded about 202 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $34,694 in their early career. California State University San Marcos graduates carry a median of $14,810 in student loans.
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San Diego State University earned the #22 position for criminology this year. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public university. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. San Diego State University awarded about 15 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from San Diego State University generally make around $51,162. Students borrow a median of $16,417 to complete this degree.
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Clemson University earned the #23 position for criminology this year. Located in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public university. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 126 criminology degrees were awarded at Clemson University in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $38,057 in their early career. Clemson University graduates carry a median of $22,375 in student loans.
See the full criminology program report for Clemson University
Marquette University placed #24 among the best criminology schools. Marquette University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Milwaukee. About 83% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 58 criminology students who graduated with this degree at Marquette University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $35,650 in their early career. Marquette University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminology from Marquette University
Arizona State University placed #25 among the best criminology schools. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. Arizona State University awarded about 13 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Arizona State University generally make around $55,876. Students borrow a median of $21,842 to complete this degree.
See the full criminology program report for Arizona State University
Rest of the Top 50 Criminology Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s criminology ranking:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 160 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
