2026 Best Criminology Schools in Virginia
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 5 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best criminology schools.
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Best Schools for Criminology in Virginia
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall criminology education in Virginia.
Top Schools in Criminology
Leading the list is Old Dominion University, our #1 school for criminology. This very large public university is located in the city of Norfolk. The six-year graduation rate is 46%. About 168 criminology degrees were awarded at Old Dominion University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Old Dominion University generally make around $37,255. Old Dominion University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
See the full criminology program report for Old Dominion University
Lynchburg College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminology, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Lynchburg, Lynchburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Lynchburg College graduates 57% of students within six years. About 35 criminology degrees were awarded at Lynchburg College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $107,159 in their early career.
See the full criminology program report for Lynchburg College
A rank of #3 makes Randolph Macon College one of the top schools for criminology. Located in the suburb of Ashland, Randolph Macon College is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. Randolph Macon College awarded about 13 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Randolph Macon College generally make around $40,317. Randolph Macon College graduates carry a median of $26,432 in student loans.
Read more about the criminology program at Randolph Macon College
Mary Baldwin College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminology, ranking #4. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Staunton. The six-year graduation rate is 39%. Mary Baldwin College awarded about 14 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Criminology graduates of Mary Baldwin College earn a median of $60,386 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $29,562.
Read more about the criminology program at Mary Baldwin College
Virginia Union University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminology, landing the #5 spot this year. Virginia Union University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Richmond. Roughly 34% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 28 criminology degrees were awarded at Virginia Union University in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminology degree from Virginia Union University earn around $30,291 in the first couple years of their career. Virginia Union University graduates carry a median of $31,450 in student loans.
Get the full criminology details for Virginia Union University
More Criminology Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 5 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.
