by our College Data Analytics TeamCriminology programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 249 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for criminology students pursuing a degree.
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Below are the best criminology schools at the master’s degree level, ranked by the quality of the education they deliver.
No school ranked higher than San Jose State University this year for criminology. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 20 criminology degrees were awarded at San Jose State University in the most recent year. Get the full criminology details for San Jose State University
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. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 19 criminology degrees were awarded at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Criminology graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $99,682 early in their careers. University Of Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $16,155 in student loans. Get the full criminology details for University Of Pennsylvania
A rank of #3 makes University Of California Irvine one of the top schools for criminology. Located in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public university. University Of California Irvine graduates 87% of students within six years. University Of California Irvine awarded about 38 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $61,062 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,865. Read more about the criminology program at University Of California Irvine
University Of Maryland College Park is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminology, ranking #4. Located in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. University Of Maryland College Park awarded about 44 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $43,698. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in criminology from University Of Maryland College Park
A rank of #5 makes George Washington University one of the top schools for criminology. Set in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. George Washington University graduates 84% of students within six years. George Washington University awarded about 10 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Criminology graduates of George Washington University earn a median of $73,749 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,910 to complete this degree. Get the full criminology details for George Washington University
The University Of Alabama ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best criminology schools. Located in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public university. The University Of Alabama graduates 73% of students within six years. There were roughly 20 criminology students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Alabama in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $50,740 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,496. More information about a degree in criminology from The University Of Alabama
University At Buffalo earned the #7 position for criminology this year. Set in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public institution. University At Buffalo graduates 75% of students within six years. There were roughly 19 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. University At Buffalo graduates carry a median of $22,232 in student loans. See the full criminology program report for University At Buffalo
East Carolina University landed the #8 spot for criminology this year. Set in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public institution. About 63% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 27 criminology students who graduated with this degree at East Carolina University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $51,931 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,747 to complete this degree. Get the full criminology details for East Carolina University
Bowling Green State University Main Campus earned the #9 position for criminology this year. Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the town of Bowling Green. Bowling Green State University Main Campus graduates 61% of students within six years. About 37 criminology degrees were awarded at Bowling Green State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Criminology graduates of Bowling Green State University Main Campus earn a median of $57,019 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,449. See the full criminology program report for Bowling Green State University Main Campus
Saint Josephs University landed the #10 spot for criminology this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Saint Josephs University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. About 26 criminology degrees were awarded at Saint Josephs University in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminology degree from Saint Josephs University earn around $54,585 in the first couple years of their career. Saint Josephs University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminology from Saint Josephs University
San Diego State University earned the #11 position for criminology this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Diego. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. San Diego State University awarded about 11 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from San Diego State University generally make around $51,162. San Diego State University graduates carry a median of $16,417 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminology from San Diego State University
Alliant International University came in at #12 for criminology this year. Alliant International University is a moderately-sized private for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. About 17 criminology degrees were awarded at Alliant International University in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminology degree from Alliant International University earn around $70,024 in the first couple years of their career. Alliant International University graduates carry a median of $21,234 in student loans. Get the full criminology details for Alliant International University
Lasell College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best criminology schools. Set in the city of Newton, Lasell College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 59%. About 45 criminology degrees were awarded at Lasell College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Lasell College generally make around $137,372. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. More information about a degree in criminology from Lasell College
University Of South Florida Main Campus placed #14 among the best criminology schools. Located in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public university. About 77% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 41 criminology students who graduated with this degree at University Of South Florida Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $37,108 in their early career. University Of South Florida Main Campus graduates carry a median of $20,302 in student loans. Read more about the criminology program at University Of South Florida Main Campus
California State University Fresno landed the #15 spot for criminology this year. Set in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. About 11 criminology degrees were awarded at California State University Fresno in the most recent year. Criminology graduates of California State University Fresno earn a median of $31,224 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $10,773. More information about a degree in criminology from California State University Fresno
University Of Missouri St Louis landed the #16 spot for criminology this year. University Of Missouri St Louis is a large public school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 15 criminology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Missouri St Louis in the most recent data year. Criminology graduates of University Of Missouri St Louis earn a median of $38,207 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,801. Get the full criminology details for University Of Missouri St Louis
Niagara University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best criminology schools. Located in the suburb of Niagara University, Niagara University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. There were roughly 17 criminology students who graduated with this degree at Niagara University in the most recent data year. Criminology graduates of Niagara University earn a median of $36,781 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Get the full criminology details for Niagara University
Regis University earned the #18 position for criminology this year. Located in the city of Denver, Regis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 26 criminology degrees were awarded at Regis University in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $48,522 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $39,337. See the full criminology program report for Regis University
Texas A And M University Commerce ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best criminology schools. Set in the town of Commerce, Texas A And M University Commerce is a large public institution. Roughly 43% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 24 criminology students who graduated with this degree at Texas A And M University Commerce in the most recent data year. Criminology graduates of Texas A And M University Commerce earn a median of $62,820 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,796 to complete this degree. Get the full criminology details for Texas A And M University Commerce
Loyola University New Orleans placed #20 among the best criminology schools. Loyola University New Orleans is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Orleans. Roughly 59% of students complete a degree within six years here. Loyola University New Orleans awarded about 20 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminology degree from Loyola University New Orleans earn around $35,578 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the criminology program at Loyola University New Orleans
Georgia Southern University earned the #21 position for criminology this year. This very large public university is located in the town of Statesboro. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. About 26 criminology degrees were awarded at Georgia Southern University in the most recent year. Criminology graduates of Georgia Southern University earn a median of $35,588 early in their careers. Georgia Southern University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Get the full criminology details for Georgia Southern University
Missouri State University Springfield earned the #22 position for criminology this year. Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public school located in the city of Springfield. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. There were roughly 13 criminology students who graduated with this degree at Missouri State University Springfield in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Missouri State University Springfield generally make around $41,747. Typical student debt for the program is $24,187. More information about a degree in criminology from Missouri State University Springfield
Lindenwood University earned the #23 position for criminology this year. Located in the city of Saint Charles, Lindenwood University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 16 criminology students who graduated with this degree at Lindenwood University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $47,448 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $28,663. Get the full criminology details for Lindenwood University
The University Of Tampa ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best criminology schools. Set in the city of Tampa, The University Of Tampa is a large private not-for-profit institution. The University Of Tampa graduates 64% of students within six years. The University Of Tampa awarded about 19 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminology degree from The University Of Tampa earn around $41,378 in the first couple years of their career. The University Of Tampa graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. See the full criminology program report for The University Of Tampa
Saint Vincent College came in at #25 for criminology this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Latrobe. About 69% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 14 criminology students who graduated with this degree at Saint Vincent College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $42,613 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. See the full criminology program report for Saint Vincent College
These schools also placed among the best for criminology this year:
Explore the best criminology schools at other degree levels:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 249 schools evaluated.
More about our data sources and methodologies.