2027 Best Criminology Bachelor’s Degree Schools
Criminology programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their criminology programs.
College Factual analyzed 146 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best criminology schools.
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Best Schools for Criminology in the United States
Below are the best criminology schools at the bachelor’s degree level, ranked by the quality of the education they deliver.
Top Schools in Criminology
University Of Maryland College Park tops our 2027 ranking of the best criminology schools. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. University Of Maryland College Park graduates 89% of students within six years. University Of Maryland College Park awarded about 313 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $43,698 in their early career. University Of Maryland College Park graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans.
See the full criminology program report for University Of Maryland College Park
A rank of #2 makes University Of Pennsylvania one of the top schools for criminology. 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. There were roughly 14 criminology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $99,682 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,155.
Read more about the criminology program at University Of Pennsylvania
Students looking for a strong criminology program will find one at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities, which ranked #3. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 114 criminology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminology degree from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn around $41,780 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
See the full criminology program report for University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
University Of California Irvine is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminology, landing the #4 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Irvine. University Of California Irvine graduates 87% of students within six years. There were roughly 334 criminology students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Irvine in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminology degree from University Of California Irvine earn around $34,522 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,865.
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Students looking for a strong criminology program will find one at Ohio State University Main Campus, which ranked #5. This very large public university is located in the city of Columbus. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates 88% of students within six years. Ohio State University Main Campus awarded about 142 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminology degree from Ohio State University Main Campus earn around $39,396 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,922 to complete this degree.
See the full criminology program report for Ohio State University Main Campus
University Of Florida ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best criminology schools. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 180 criminology degrees were awarded at University Of Florida in the most recent year. Criminology graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $35,096 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
More information about a degree in criminology from University Of Florida
University Of Delaware landed the #7 spot for criminology this year. Located in the suburb of Newark, University Of Delaware is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. About 135 criminology degrees were awarded at University Of Delaware in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $35,968 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,685.
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North Carolina State University At Raleigh landed the #8 spot 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. North Carolina State University At Raleigh awarded about 80 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Criminology graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $35,076 early in their careers. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates carry a median of $21,875 in student loans.
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University Of Utah came in at #9 for criminology this year. University Of Utah is a very large public school located in the city of Salt Lake City. About 65% of students finish within six years. University Of Utah awarded about 162 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Criminology graduates of University Of Utah earn a median of $60,527 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,798 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminology from University Of Utah
Gonzaga University came in at #10 for criminology this year. Set in the city of Spokane, Gonzaga University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Gonzaga University graduates 86% of students within six years. Gonzaga University awarded about 36 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Criminology graduates of Gonzaga University earn a median of $38,028 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,994.
See the full criminology program report for Gonzaga University
University Of Iowa came in at #11 for criminology this year. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public institution. University Of Iowa graduates 75% of students within six years. There were roughly 77 criminology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Iowa in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminology degree from University Of Iowa earn around $38,520 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
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University Of Miami earned the #12 position for criminology this year. Located in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 84% of students finish within six years. About 38 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. University Of Miami graduates carry a median of $16,500 in student loans.
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California State Polytechnic University Pomona ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best criminology schools. Located in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. About 77 criminology degrees were awarded at California State Polytechnic University Pomona in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminology degree from California State Polytechnic University Pomona earn around $49,427 in the first couple years of their 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 came in at #14 for criminology this year. Located in the city of New York, Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public university. 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. Graduates of the criminology program make about $33,798 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete this degree.
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The University Of Texas At Dallas landed the #15 spot for criminology this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Richardson. The University Of Texas At Dallas graduates 76% of students within six years. About 79 criminology degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Dallas in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Dallas generally make around $40,603. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminology from The University Of Texas At Dallas
Washington State University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best criminology schools. Washington State University is a very large public school located in the town of Pullman. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. Washington State University awarded about 136 criminology degrees 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. Students borrow a median of $21,903 to complete this degree.
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University Of Minnesota Duluth placed #17 among the best criminology schools. University Of Minnesota Duluth is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Duluth. University Of Minnesota Duluth graduates 65% of students within six years. University Of Minnesota Duluth awarded about 51 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminology degree from University Of Minnesota Duluth earn around $42,562 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,887 to complete this degree.
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California State University San Marcos earned the #18 position for criminology this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of San Marcos. California State University San Marcos graduates 55% of students within six years. There were roughly 202 criminology students who graduated with this degree at California State University San Marcos in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from California State University San Marcos generally make around $34,694. California State University San Marcos graduates carry a median of $14,810 in student loans.
See the full criminology program report for California State University San Marcos
University At Buffalo landed the #19 spot for criminology this year. University At Buffalo is a very large public school located in the suburb of Buffalo. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. There were roughly 89 criminology students who graduated with this degree at University At Buffalo in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $52,403 in their early career. University At Buffalo graduates carry a median of $22,232 in student loans.
See the full criminology program report for University At Buffalo
Clemson University came in at #20 for criminology this year. Located in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public university. About 87% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 126 criminology students who graduated with this degree at Clemson University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $38,057 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,375 to complete this degree.
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Marquette University came in at #21 for criminology this year. Set in the city of Milwaukee, Marquette University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 58 criminology degrees were awarded at Marquette University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Marquette University generally make around $35,650. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
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Villanova University came in at #22 for criminology this year. Set in the suburb of Villanova, Villanova University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 92% of students finish within six years. About 25 criminology degrees were awarded at Villanova University in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminology degree from Villanova University earn around $72,601 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,184 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminology from Villanova University
University Of South Florida Main Campus ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best criminology schools. Set in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. There were roughly 376 criminology students who graduated with this degree at University Of South Florida Main Campus in the most recent data year. Criminology graduates of University Of South Florida Main Campus earn a median of $37,108 early in their careers. University Of South Florida Main Campus graduates carry a median of $20,302 in student loans.
See the full criminology program report for University Of South Florida Main Campus
Stonehill College came in at #24 for criminology this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Easton. Stonehill College graduates 76% of students within six years. About 41 criminology degrees were awarded at Stonehill College in the most recent year. Criminology graduates of Stonehill College earn a median of $40,928 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
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Northern Arizona University earned the #25 position for criminology this year. Located in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. About 208 criminology degrees were awarded at Northern Arizona University in the most recent year. Criminology graduates of Northern Arizona University earn a median of $37,214 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,000 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 50 Criminology Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s criminology ranking:
Other Criminology Degree Levels
Explore the best criminology schools at other degree levels:
View All Criminology Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 146 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.