2026 Best Criminology Schools in North Carolina
Criminology is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 7 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best criminology schools.
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Best Schools for Criminology in North Carolina
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
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in criminology. Located in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public university. About 69% of students finish within six years. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte awarded about 11 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $51,799 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,673.
More information about a degree in criminology from University Of North Carolina At Charlotte
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. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 86 criminology degrees were awarded at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $35,076 in their early career. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates carry a median of $21,875 in student loans.
Read more about the criminology program at North Carolina State University At Raleigh
East Carolina University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best criminology schools. Set in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public institution. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 183 criminology students who graduated with this degree at East Carolina University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from East Carolina University generally make around $51,931. Typical student debt for the program is $24,747.
More information about a degree in criminology from East Carolina University
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington 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 Wilmington. About 71% of students finish within six years. About 93 criminology degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Wilmington in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $34,443 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,915.
More information about a degree in criminology from University Of North Carolina At Wilmington
Peace College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminology, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Raleigh, Peace College is a small private not-for-profit university. About 45% of students finish within six years. Peace College awarded about 17 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminology degree from Peace College earn around $41,509 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminology from Peace College
Johnson C Smith University placed #6 among the best criminology schools. Johnson C Smith University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Charlotte. The six-year graduation rate is 34%. There were roughly 15 criminology students who graduated with this degree at Johnson C Smith University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminology degree from Johnson C Smith University earn around $32,751 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $32,047.
More information about a degree in criminology from Johnson C Smith University
More Criminology Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 7 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.
