2026 Best Criminology Schools in Pennsylvania
Criminology programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 22 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best criminology schools.
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Best Schools for Criminology in Pennsylvania
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall criminology education in Pennsylvania.
Top Schools in Criminology
Leading the list is University Of Pennsylvania, our #1 school for criminology. 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. University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 41 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $99,682 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,155 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminology from University Of Pennsylvania
Students looking for a strong criminology program will find one at Wilkes University, which ranked #2. Wilkes University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Wilkes-Barre. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 12 criminology students who graduated with this degree at Wilkes University in the most recent data year. Criminology graduates of Wilkes University earn a median of $64,004 early in their careers. Wilkes University graduates carry a median of $26,601 in student loans.
Get the full criminology details for Wilkes University
Pennsylvania Western University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best criminology schools. Set in the town of California, Pennsylvania Western University is a large public institution. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 119 criminology students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania Western University in the most recent data year.
Read more about the criminology program at Pennsylvania Western University
Students looking for a strong criminology program will find one at Saint Josephs University, which ranked #4. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Philadelphia. Roughly 79% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 38 criminology degrees were awarded at Saint Josephs University in the most recent year. Criminology graduates of Saint Josephs University earn a median of $48,934 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
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Villanova University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminology, ranking #5. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Villanova. Villanova University graduates 92% of students within six years. There were roughly 15 criminology students who graduated with this degree at Villanova University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $72,601 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,184.
See the full criminology program report for Villanova University
Drexel University landed the #6 spot for criminology this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 78%. Drexel University awarded about 18 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminology degree from Drexel University earn around $40,229 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
See the full criminology program report for Drexel University
Lebanon Valley College came in at #7 for criminology this year. Set in the suburb of Annville, Lebanon Valley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 65% of students finish within six years. Lebanon Valley College awarded about 15 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Criminology graduates of Lebanon Valley College earn a median of $38,828 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,767.
See the full criminology program report for Lebanon Valley College
Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania earned the #8 position for criminology this year. Located in the town of Slippery Rock, Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public university. About 66% of students finish within six years. About 42 criminology degrees were awarded at Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $36,276 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,990 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminology from Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania
Lycoming College came in at #9 for criminology this year. Lycoming College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Williamsport. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. Lycoming College awarded about 38 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $40,646 in their early career. Lycoming College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Read more about the criminology program at Lycoming College
Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus placed #10 among the best criminology schools. Set in the town of Indiana, Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus awarded about 128 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $41,866 in their early career. Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Get the full criminology details for Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus
Saint Vincent College earned the #11 position for criminology this year. Saint Vincent College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Latrobe. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 26 criminology degrees were awarded at Saint Vincent College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $40,088 in their early career. Saint Vincent College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Get the full criminology details for Saint Vincent College
Arcadia University placed #12 among the best criminology schools. Set in the suburb of Glenside, Arcadia University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Arcadia University graduates 67% of students within six years. There were roughly 17 criminology students who graduated with this degree at Arcadia University in the most recent data year. Criminology graduates of Arcadia University earn a median of $33,823 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
See the full criminology program report for Arcadia University
Cedar Crest College placed #13 among the best criminology schools. Set in the city of Allentown, Cedar Crest College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. There were roughly 23 criminology students who graduated with this degree at Cedar Crest College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $67,662 in their early career. Cedar Crest College graduates carry a median of $30,759 in student loans.
Read more about the criminology program at Cedar Crest College
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Notes and References
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 · 22 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.