2027 Best Criminology Schools in the Southeast Region
Criminology degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 28 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for criminology students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Criminology in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall criminology education in the Southeast Region.
Top Schools in Criminology
University Of Florida is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in criminology. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. About 91% of students finish within six years. About 184 criminology degrees were awarded at University Of Florida in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $35,096. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
See the full criminology program report for University Of Florida
North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminology, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 80 criminology degrees were awarded at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent year. Criminology graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $35,076 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,875 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminology program at North Carolina State University At Raleigh
University Of Miami is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminology, landing the #3 spot 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. There were roughly 45 criminology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Miami in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $29,670 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,500.
See the full criminology program report for University Of Miami
Students looking for a strong criminology program will find one at Clemson University, which ranked #4. Clemson University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Clemson. 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. Criminology graduates of Clemson University earn a median of $38,057 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,375.
More information about a degree in criminology from Clemson University
Students looking for a strong criminology program will find one at University Of South Florida Main Campus, which ranked #5. This very large public university is located in the city of Tampa. About 77% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 425 criminology students who graduated with this degree at University Of South Florida Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminology degree from University Of South Florida Main Campus earn around $37,108 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,302 to complete this degree.
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The University Of Alabama landed the #6 spot for criminology this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Tuscaloosa. Roughly 73% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 339 criminology degrees were awarded at The University Of Alabama in the most recent year. Criminology graduates of The University Of Alabama earn a median of $50,740 early in their careers. The University Of Alabama graduates carry a median of $24,496 in student loans.
Get the full criminology details for The University Of Alabama
University Of Florida Online earned the #7 position for criminology this year. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida Online is a moderately-sized public university. About 75% of students finish within six years. University Of Florida Online awarded about 40 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Criminology graduates of University Of Florida Online earn a median of $35,096 early in their careers. University Of Florida Online graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans.
See the full criminology program report for University Of Florida Online
East Carolina University came in at #8 for criminology this year. East Carolina University is a very large public school located in the city of Greenville. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 198 criminology students who graduated with this degree at East Carolina University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminology degree from East Carolina University earn around $51,931 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,747 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminology program at East Carolina University
Mercer University placed #9 among the best criminology schools. Set in the city of Macon, Mercer University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Mercer University graduates 70% of students within six years. There were roughly 11 criminology students who graduated with this degree at Mercer University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Mercer University generally make around $56,699. Mercer University graduates carry a median of $32,463 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminology from Mercer University
The University Of Tampa came in at #10 for criminology this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Tampa. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. The University Of Tampa awarded about 182 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from The University Of Tampa generally make around $37,758. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
More information about a degree in criminology from The University Of Tampa
Old Dominion University earned the #11 position for criminology this year. Located in the city of Norfolk, Old Dominion University is a very large public university. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 152 criminology students who graduated with this degree at Old Dominion University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Old Dominion University generally make around $37,255. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
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West Virginia University came in at #12 for criminology this year. Set in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. West Virginia University awarded about 133 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminology degree from West Virginia University earn around $51,750 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,772.
See the full criminology program report for West Virginia University
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington came in at #13 for criminology this year. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public school located in the city of Wilmington. About 71% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 118 criminology students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Wilmington in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminology degree from University Of North Carolina At Wilmington earn around $34,443 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,915 to complete this degree.
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University Of Central Arkansas landed the #14 spot for criminology this year. This large public university is located in the city of Conway. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Central Arkansas awarded about 32 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Criminology graduates of University Of Central Arkansas earn a median of $38,453 early in their careers. University Of Central Arkansas graduates carry a median of $20,078 in student loans.
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Lynchburg College earned the #15 position for criminology this year. Lynchburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg. Lynchburg College graduates 57% of students within six years. There were roughly 28 criminology students who graduated with this degree at Lynchburg College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Lynchburg College generally make around $107,159.
Read more about the criminology program at Lynchburg College
Loyola University New Orleans placed #16 among the best criminology schools. Set in the city of New Orleans, Loyola University New Orleans is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 59%. Loyola University New Orleans awarded about 63 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Loyola University New Orleans generally make around $35,578. Loyola University New Orleans graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full criminology program report for Loyola University New Orleans
Mississippi State University came in at #17 for criminology this year. Set in the town of Mississippi State, Mississippi State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. Mississippi State University awarded about 59 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Criminology graduates of Mississippi State University earn a median of $33,191 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,356 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminology from Mississippi State University
Georgia Southern University landed the #18 spot for criminology this year. Georgia Southern University is a very large public school located in the town of Statesboro. About 55% of students finish within six years. About 221 criminology degrees were awarded at Georgia Southern University in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $35,588 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminology from Georgia Southern University
Florida Southern College placed #19 among the best criminology schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Lakeland. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 19 criminology students who graduated with this degree at Florida Southern College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $39,713 in their early career. Florida Southern College graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
See the full criminology program report for Florida Southern College
Western Kentucky University earned the #20 position for criminology this year. This large public university is located in the city of Bowling Green. Western Kentucky University graduates 58% of students within six years. About 74 criminology degrees were awarded at Western Kentucky University in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $32,370 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminology program at Western Kentucky University
Arkansas State University Main Campus ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best criminology schools. Arkansas State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Jonesboro. Arkansas State University Main Campus graduates 53% of students within six years. There were roughly 50 criminology students who graduated with this degree at Arkansas State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Arkansas State University Main Campus generally make around $36,732. Students borrow a median of $27,875 to complete this degree.
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Barry University placed #22 among the best criminology schools. Barry University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Miami. About 37% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 15 criminology students who graduated with this degree at Barry University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Barry University generally make around $44,015. Barry University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full criminology program report for Barry University
Lander University ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best criminology schools. Lander University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Greenwood. Lander University graduates 50% of students within six years. Lander University awarded about 30 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $37,548 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,064 to complete this degree.
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Flagler College St Augustine came in at #24 for criminology this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Saint Augustine. About 56% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 34 criminology students who graduated with this degree at Flagler College St Augustine in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Flagler College St Augustine generally make around $29,240. Students borrow a median of $25,625 to complete this degree.
See the full criminology program report for Flagler College St Augustine
University Of West Georgia came in at #25 for criminology this year. University Of West Georgia is a large public school located in the town of Carrollton. The six-year graduation rate is 44%. There were roughly 94 criminology students who graduated with this degree at University Of West Georgia in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $33,839 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $28,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminology from University Of West Georgia
Rest of the Top 28 Criminology Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s criminology ranking:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 28 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.