2027 Best Criminology Schools in Pennsylvania
Criminology degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their criminology programs.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 13 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for criminology students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Criminology in Pennsylvania
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the criminology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Criminology
No school ranked higher than University Of Pennsylvania this year for criminology. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 34 criminology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminology degree from University Of Pennsylvania earn around $99,682 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,155 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminology program at University Of Pennsylvania
A rank of #2 makes Villanova University one of the top schools for criminology. Villanova University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Villanova. Villanova University graduates 92% of students within six years. Villanova University awarded about 25 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminology degree from Villanova University earn around $72,601 in the first couple years of their career. Villanova University graduates carry a median of $26,184 in student loans.
See the full criminology program report for Villanova University
Saint Josephs University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminology, ranking #3. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Saint Josephs University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 79% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 42 criminology students who graduated with this degree at Saint Josephs University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $48,934 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminology from Saint Josephs University
Students looking for a strong criminology program will find one at Drexel University, which ranked #4. Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Roughly 78% of students complete a degree within six years here. Drexel University awarded about 25 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. Drexel University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminology from Drexel University
Wilkes University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminology, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Wilkes-Barre, Wilkes University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 14 criminology degrees were awarded at Wilkes University in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminology degree from Wilkes University earn around $64,004 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,601 to complete this degree.
Get the full criminology details for Wilkes University
Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania earned the #6 position for criminology this year. Located in the town of Slippery Rock, Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. About 44 criminology degrees were awarded at Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Criminology graduates of Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $36,276 early in their careers. Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $25,990 in student loans.
See the full criminology program report for Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania
Albright College landed the #7 spot for criminology this year. Located in the city of Reading, Albright College is a small private not-for-profit university. Albright College graduates 51% of students within six years. There were roughly 13 criminology students who graduated with this degree at Albright College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Albright College generally make around $38,075. Typical student debt for the program is $28,958.
More information about a degree in criminology from Albright College
Lycoming College came in at #8 for criminology this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Williamsport. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. Lycoming College awarded about 26 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Criminology graduates of Lycoming College earn a median of $40,646 early in their careers. Lycoming College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminology from Lycoming College
Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus earned the #9 position for criminology this year. This large public university is located in the town of Indiana. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 131 criminology students who graduated with this degree at Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $41,866 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
See the full criminology program report for Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus
Saint Vincent College earned the #10 position 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. About 21 criminology degrees were awarded at Saint Vincent College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Saint Vincent College generally make around $40,088. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full criminology details for Saint Vincent College
Arcadia University earned the #11 position for criminology this year. Located in the suburb of Glenside, Arcadia University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. Arcadia University awarded about 22 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Arcadia University generally make around $33,823. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
See the full criminology program report for Arcadia University
Westmoreland County Community College landed the #12 spot for criminology this year. Westmoreland County Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Youngwood. Westmoreland County Community College awarded about 10 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminology from Westmoreland County Community College
Cedar Crest College came in at #13 for criminology this year. Set in the city of Allentown, Cedar Crest College is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 60% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 24 criminology students who graduated with this degree at Cedar Crest College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminology degree from Cedar Crest College earn around $67,662 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $30,759 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminology from Cedar Crest College
More Criminology Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 13 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.