8,478
Graduates Per Year
$46K
Average Salary
#60
Most Popular Major
Degree Stats
Popular
8,478
13% NATIONAL AVG
Diplomas Received Last Year
194
5% NATIONAL AVG
Colleges Offering this Degree
Most Popular Degrees
59
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
8,738
60
Criminology
8,478
61
Physics
8,457
Most Widely Offered Degrees
35
/
1.852
Worse
Better
Top 100 Colleges offering this degree
Degree Granting Schools that are Public
Most Graduates
By Region
Southeast
University of Florida
By State
California
California State University-Fresno
By Conference
Big Ten Conference
University of Maryland-College Park
By School
Arkansas Northeastern College
If you think life as a criminal investigator, detective, or investigator sounds interesting, then a degree in criminology may just be for you. You could even become an undercover agent for the FBI!
Criminology is the 60th most popular degree in America, with 8,478 students receiving their bachelors degree last year. It just beat out #61 Physics, and narrowly lost to #59 Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
The degree is offered at a total of 194 colleges across the nation, and is the 105th most widely offered degree. It is only offered at 5% of the Top 100 Best Collegesin America.
It is also worth noting that a smidgeon greater than 42.9% of colleges offering criminology are public making it a pretty accessible field.
The southeast produces the most criminology graduates, largely led by University of Florida, while it’s the Big Ten Conference that leads conference totals. As far as states, California ranks highest, with particular help from California State University-Fresnoand University of California-Irvine.
All that being said, no individual school produces more criminology graduates than Arkansas Northeastern College, which graduated 415 students last year alone. Although size is critical, another important factor to consider is the program’s density (the percent of all students that study criminology). More students studied criminology as a percentage of total students at Virginia Union Universitythan any other college.
We wish you luck on your college search and we hope you enjoy Authority's 2022 official Best Colleges for Criminology list. Some of our picks may surprise you!
Good luck finding the right college for you. We hope you enjoy Authority's 2022 official Best Colleges for Criminology list. Some of our picks may surprise you!
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#1 Best Colleges for Criminology
University of Maryland-College Park is a very large public university located in College Park, MD ranked 100thin America. It has a total of 33,022 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, with a 44.18% acceptance rate. University of Maryland-College Park offers 432 different majors and is best known for its criminology, preschool education and teaching, and family and community services programs (nationally ranked 1st, 1st, and 2nd respectively). With a tuition cost of $8,824 for in-state students and $34,936 for those from out-of-state, University of Maryland-College Park is reasonably costly. 75.08% of students graduate starting the next chapter of their lives, employment. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $62,900 per year, which is 51% greater than the national median.
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College Park, MD
www.umd.edu
A
Rating
44%
Acceptance
44,486
Students
# 13
Ranking
$34,936
Tuition
#2 Best Colleges for Criminology
University of California-Irvine is a very large public university located in Irvine, CA ranked 116thin the nation. It has a total of 31,386 full-time undergraduate students and is relatively competitive, accepting 26.54% of applicants. University of California-Irvine offers 291 different majors and is best known for its managerial economics, social psychology, and criminology programs (nationally ranked 1st, 1st, and 2nd respectively). With a tuition cost of $11,442 for in-state students and $41,196 for those from out-of-state, University of California-Irvine is quite expensive. 46.45% of students graduate starting the next phase of their lives, employment. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $58,400 per year, which is 41% greater than the national median.
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Irvine, CA
www.uci.edu/
A
Rating
27%
Acceptance
38,105
Students
# 20
Ranking
$41,196
Tuition
#3 Best Colleges for Criminology
California State University-Fresno is a very large public college located in Fresno, CA ranked 64thin California. It has a total of 23,304 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, with a 57.94% acceptance rate. California State University-Fresno offers 123 different majors and is best known for its criminology, agricultural teacher education, and food science programs (nationally ranked 3rd, 6th, and 11th respectively). With a tuition cost of $5,742 for students from California and $17,622 for those from out-of-state, California State University-Fresno is moderately priced. 58.58% of students graduate beginning the next phase of their lives, employment. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $44,700 per year, which is 8% over the national median.
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Fresno, CA
www.fresnostate.edu/
C+
Rating
58%
Acceptance
26,765
Students
# 196
Ranking
$17,622
Tuition
#4 Best Colleges for Criminology
University of South Florida-Main Campus is a very large public university located in Tampa, FL ranked 216thin the nation. It has a total of 37,780 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 47.63% of applicants. University of South Florida-Main Campus offers 238 different majors and is best known for its audiology, social science teacher education, and criminology programs (nationally ranked 2nd, 3rd, and 4th respectively). With a tuition cost of $4,559 for in-state students and $15,473 for those from out-of-state, University of South Florida-Main Campus is reasonably priced. 65.22% of students graduate beginning the next phase of their lives, joining the labor market. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $43,500 per year, which is 5% greater than the national median.
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Tampa, FL
www.usf.edu
A
Rating
48%
Acceptance
51,808
Students
# 58
Ranking
$15,473
Tuition
#5 Best Colleges for Criminology
University of Florida is a very large public university located in Gainesville, FL ranked 78thin the United States. It has a total of 38,645 full-time undergraduate students and is somewhat competitive, accepting 36.58% of applicants. University of Florida offers 433 different majors and is best known for its exercise physiology, microbiological sciences and immunology, and family and community services programs, which are all nationally ranked 1st. With a tuition cost of $4,477 for students from Florida and $25,694 for those from out-of-state, University of Florida is reasonably costly. 85.38% of students graduate starting the next chapter of their lives, employment. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $56,000 per year, which is 35% over the national median.
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Gainesville, FL
www.ufl.edu/
A+
Rating
37%
Acceptance
58,749
Students
# 8
Ranking
$25,694
Tuition
#6 Best Colleges for Criminology
University of Pennsylvania is a very large private university located in Philadelphia, PA ranked 8thin the US. It has a total of 14,000 full-time undergraduate students and is highly competitive, accepting 7.66% of applicants. University of Pennsylvania offers 355 different majors and is best known for its finance, management sciences and quantitative methods, and philosophy programs, which are all nationally ranked 1st. With a tuition cost of $51,156 per year, University of Pennsylvania is exceptionally costly. 81.13% of students graduate starting the next chapter of their lives, entering the labor market. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $85,900 per year, which is 107% over the national median.
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Philadelphia, PA
www.upenn.edu
A+
Rating
8%
Acceptance
29,813
Students
# 8
Ranking
$51,156
Tuition
#7 Best Colleges for Criminology
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice is a large public institution located in New York, NY ranked 62ndin New York. It has a total of 16,573 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, with a 40.53% acceptance rate. CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice offers 65 different majors and is best known for its criminal justice, forensic psychology, and public administration programs (nationally ranked 1st, 1st, and 3rd respectively). With a tuition cost of $6,930 for students from New York and $14,880 for those from out-of-state, CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice is moderately priced. 48.97% of students graduate beginning the next chapter of their lives, entering the workforce. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $44,900 per year, which is 8% over the national median.
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New York, NY
www.jjay.cuny.edu
B
Rating
41%
Acceptance
19,194
Students
# 127
Ranking
$14,880
Tuition
#8 Best Colleges for Criminology
University of Delaware is a very large public university located in Newark, DE ranked 159thin the US. It has a total of 21,190 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 71.36% of applicants. University of Delaware offers 235 different majors and is best known for its educational administration and supervision, pre veterinary studies, and history teacher education programs (nationally ranked 1st, 2nd, and 3rd respectively). With a tuition cost of $12,730 for students from Delaware and $34,160 for those from out-of-state, University of Delaware is reasonably expensive. 78.43% of students graduate beginning the next stage of their lives, working. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $57,000 per year, which is 37% above the national median.
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Newark, DE
www.udel.edu/
A
Rating
71%
Acceptance
25,885
Students
# 38
Ranking
$34,160
Tuition
#9 Best Colleges for Criminology
Stockton University is a mid-sized public liberal arts college located in Galloway, NJ ranked 17thin New Jersey. It has a total of 10,192 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 76.32% of applicants. Stockton University offers 54 different majors and is best known for its criminology, marine biology and biological oceanography, and sustainability studies programs (nationally ranked 9th, 18th, and 23rd respectively). With a tuition cost of $12,005 for students from New Jersey and $19,293 for those from out-of-state, Stockton University is reasonably priced. 71.01% of students graduate starting the next stage of their lives, working. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $47,500 per year, which is 14% greater than the national median.
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Galloway, NJ
www.stockton.edu
B-
Rating
76%
Acceptance
11,457
Students
# 179
Ranking
$19,293
Tuition
#10 Best Colleges for Criminology
Saint Vincent College is a small private liberal arts college located in Latrobe, PA ranked 29thin Pennsylvania. It has a total of 1,765 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 67.7% of applicants. Saint Vincent College offers 62 different majors and is best known for its natural sciences, criminology, and early childhood education and teaching programs (nationally ranked 9th, 10th, and 48th respectively). With a tuition cost of $35,520 per year, Saint Vincent College is somewhat moderately costly. 66.98% of students graduate moving on to the next stage of their lives, joining the labor market. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $47,600 per year, which is 15% greater than the national median.
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Latrobe, PA
https://www.stvincent.edu
B+
Rating
68%
Acceptance
1,989
Students
# 259
Ranking
$35,520
Tuition
#11 Best Colleges for Criminology
Saint Joseph's University is a mid-sized private institution located in Philadelphia, PA ranked 198thin the nation. It has a total of 5,109 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 74.98% of applicants. Saint Joseph's University offers 142 different majors and is best known for its insurance, management science, and criminology programs (nationally ranked 6th, 7th, and 11th respectively). With a tuition cost of $46,350 per year, Saint Joseph's University is exceptionally pricey. 73.11% of students graduate moving on to the next chapter of their lives, working. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $59,600 per year, which is 43% over the national median.
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Philadelphia, PA
https://www.sju.edu
A
Rating
75%
Acceptance
8,805
Students
# 145
Ranking
$46,350
Tuition
#12 Best Colleges for Criminology
Lycoming College is a small private liberal arts college located in Williamsport, PA ranked 36thin Pennsylvania. It has a total of 1,172 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, with a 62.3% acceptance rate. Lycoming College offers 54 different majors and is best known for its criminology program, which is ranked 12th in America. With a tuition cost of $40,896 per year, Lycoming College is rather expensive. 59.64% of students graduate starting the next stage of their lives, employment. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $45,700 per year, which is 10% greater than the national median.
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Williamsport, PA
https://www.lycoming.edu
B
Rating
62%
Acceptance
1,172
Students
# 324
Ranking
$40,896
Tuition
#13 Best Colleges for Criminology
The University of Tampa is a mid-sized private institution located in Tampa, FL ranked 289thin the US. It has a total of 9,140 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 44.75% of applicants. The University of Tampa offers 75 different majors and is best known for its entrepreneurship, marine biology and biological oceanography, and computer and information systems security programs (nationally ranked 7th, 10th, and 12th respectively). With a tuition cost of $27,990 per year, The University of Tampa is reasonably pricey. 47.09% of students graduate beginning the next phase of their lives, entering the labor force. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $48,600 per year, which is 17% greater than the national median.
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Tampa, FL
www.ut.edu
A-
Rating
45%
Acceptance
10,428
Students
# 206
Ranking
$27,990
Tuition
#14 Best Colleges for Criminology
University of Miami is a large private university located in Coral Gables, FL ranked 59thin the US. It has a total of 12,351 full-time undergraduate students and is relatively competitive, accepting barely south of 2/7 of applicants. University of Miami offers 309 different majors and is best known for its information technology administration and management, marine biology and biological oceanography, and broadcast journalism programs (nationally ranked 1st, 2nd, and 3rd respectively). With a tuition cost of $50,400 per year, University of Miami is extremely expensive. 74.98% of students graduate moving on to the next phase of their lives, joining the labor market. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $60,100 per year, which is 45% over the national median.
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Coral Gables, FL
www.miami.edu/
A+
Rating
27%
Acceptance
19,618
Students
# 55
Ranking
$50,400
Tuition
#15 Best Colleges for Criminology
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities is a very large public university located in Minneapolis, MN ranked 137thin the US. It has a total of 43,828 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 56.74% of applicants. University of Minnesota-Twin Cities offers 520 different majors and is best known for its computer systems analysis, developmental and child psychology, and computer systems networking and telecommunications programs, which are all nationally ranked 1st. With a tuition cost of $13,318 for in-state students and $31,616 for those from out-of-state, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities is reasonably expensive. 73.11% of students graduate starting the next chapter of their lives, joining the labor force. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $51,900 per year, which is 25% over the national median.
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Minneapolis, MN
https://twin-cities.umn.edu
A
Rating
57%
Acceptance
61,787
Students
# 29
Ranking
$31,616
Tuition
#16 Best Colleges for Criminology
Stonehill College is a small private institution located in Easton, MA ranked 236thin the United States. It has a total of 2,591 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting a tad north of two in every three applicants. Stonehill College offers 50 different majors and is best known for its criminology, visual and performing arts, and health care administration programs (nationally ranked 16th, 31st, and 34th respectively). With a tuition cost of $44,420 per year, Stonehill College is quite high-priced. 82.24% of students graduate starting the next stage of their lives, joining the labor market. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $60,800 per year, which is 46% greater than the national median.
Read More
Easton, MA
https://www.stonehill.edu
A-
Rating
68%
Acceptance
2,613
Students
# 171
Ranking
$44,420
Tuition
#17 Best Colleges for Criminology
University of Florida-Online is a small public university located in Gainesville, FL ranked 16thin Florida. It has a total of 4,525 full-time undergraduate students and is somewhat competitive, accepting virtually 33% of applicants. University of Florida-Online offers 22 different majors and is best known for its fire protection, criminology, and fitness administration programs (nationally ranked 3rd, 17th, and 33rd respectively). With a tuition cost of $3,358 for students from Florida and $15,000 for those from out-of-state, University of Florida-Online is reasonably priced. 85.38% of students graduate moving on to the next stage of their lives, joining the labor force. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $56,000 per year, which is 35% above the national median.
Read More
Gainesville, FL
www.ufonline.ufl.edu
B
Rating
32%
Acceptance
4,525
Students
# 123
Ranking
$15,000
Tuition
#18 Best Colleges for Criminology
Saint Anselm College is a small private liberal arts college located in Manchester, NH ranked 2ndin New Hampshire. It has a total of 2,034 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 75.16% of applicants. Saint Anselm College offers 43 different majors and is best known for its forensic chemistry, criminology, and biological and physical sciences programs (nationally ranked 2nd, 18th, and 21st respectively). With a tuition cost of $40,500 per year, Saint Anselm College is quite expensive. 78.98% of students graduate ready to the next chapter of their lives, working. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $58,300 per year, which is 40% over the national median.
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Manchester, NH
www.anselm.edu
B+
Rating
75%
Acceptance
2,034
Students
# 238
Ranking
$40,500
Tuition
#19 Best Colleges for Criminology
University of South Florida-Sarasota-Manatee is a small public university located in Sarasota, FL ranked 182ndin the United States. It has a total of 2,314 full-time undergraduate students and is relatively competitive, accepting 23.61% of applicants. University of South Florida-Sarasota-Manatee offers 27 different majors and is best known for its professional technical business and scientific writing, hospitality management, and communication sciences and disorders programs (nationally ranked 5th, 13th, and 18th respectively). With a tuition cost of $4,206 for students from Florida and $15,120 for those from out-of-state, University of South Florida-Sarasota-Manatee is reasonably priced. 65.22% of students graduate starting the next chapter of their lives, working. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $43,500 per year, which is 5% over the national median.
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Sarasota, FL
usfsm.edu/
A
Rating
24%
Acceptance
2,505
Students
# 48
Ranking
$15,120
Tuition
#20 Best Colleges for Criminology
Ohio State University-Main Campus is a very large public university located in Columbus, OH ranked 160thin America. It has a total of 50,053 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 53.74% of applicants. Ohio State University-Main Campus offers 382 different majors and is best known for its allied health and medical assisting services, operations management and supervision, and educational administration and supervision programs (nationally ranked 1st, 2nd, and 2nd respectively). With a tuition cost of $10,197 for students from Ohio and $31,174 for those from out-of-state, Ohio State University-Main Campus is reasonably pricey. 59.09% of students graduate moving on to the next phase of their lives, entering the labor market. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $46,100 per year, which is 11% above the national median.
Read More
Columbus, OH
www.osu.edu/
A
Rating
54%
Acceptance
66,178
Students
# 39
Ranking
$31,174
Tuition
#21 Best Colleges for Criminology
The University of Texas at Dallas is a very large public university located in Richardson, TX ranked 231stin the United States. It has a total of 21,317 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting in the neighborhood of 7 out of 9 applicants. The University of Texas at Dallas offers 140 different majors and is best known for its game and interactive media design, management science, and management sciences and quantitative methods programs (nationally ranked 1st, 3rd, and 4th respectively). With a tuition cost of $13,442 for students from Texas and $38,168 for those from out-of-state, The University of Texas at Dallas is rather expensive. 64.75% of students graduate moving on to the next phase of their lives, employment. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $53,100 per year, which is 28% greater than the national median.
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Richardson, TX
www.utdallas.edu
A-
Rating
79%
Acceptance
31,419
Students
# 64
Ranking
$38,168
Tuition
#22 Best Colleges for Criminology
University of Nevada-Reno is a very large public university located in Reno, NV ranked 3rdin Nevada. It has a total of 20,010 full-time undergraduate students and is not competitive, accepting 88.22% of applicants. University of Nevada-Reno offers 193 different majors and is best known for its health and wellness, hydrology, and geological engineering programs (nationally ranked 1st, 1st, and 7th respectively). With a tuition cost of $6,990 for students from Nevada and $22,042 for those from out-of-state, University of Nevada-Reno is reasonably pricey. 57.08% of students graduate ready to the next phase of their lives, entering the workforce. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $47,000 per year, which is 13% over the national median.
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Reno, NV
www.unr.edu/
B
Rating
88%
Acceptance
24,246
Students
# 154
Ranking
$22,042
Tuition
#23 Best Colleges for Criminology
Niagara University is a small private institution located in Niagara University, NY ranked 71stin New York. It has a total of 2,938 full-time undergraduate students and is not competitive, accepting slightly north of 8 in 9 applicants. Niagara University offers 98 different majors and is best known for its criminologyand english teacher education programs, which are respectively ranked 23rd and 33rd in the nation. With a tuition cost of $33,000 per year, Niagara University is reasonably pricey. 61.34% of students graduate ready to the next chapter of their lives, employment. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $42,800 per year, which is 3% greater than the national median.
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Niagara University, NY
www.niagara.edu
B
Rating
89%
Acceptance
4,229
Students
# 369
Ranking
$33,000
Tuition
#24 Best Colleges for Criminology
Hamline University is a small private college located in Saint Paul, MN ranked 13thin Minnesota. It has a total of 2,248 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting just north of two in every three applicants. Hamline University offers 99 different majors and is best known for its human biology, digital arts, and criminology programs (nationally ranked 12th, 22nd, and 24th respectively). With a tuition cost of $41,734 per year, Hamline University is rather costly. 60.25% of students graduate moving on to the next chapter of their lives, working. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $49,200 per year, which is 18% greater than the national median.
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Saint Paul, MN
www.hamline.edu
B-
Rating
68%
Acceptance
4,802
Students
# 398
Ranking
$41,734
Tuition
#25 Best Colleges for Criminology
University of South Florida-St Petersburg is a small public university located in St. Petersburg, FL ranked 271stin the nation. It has a total of 4,930 full-time undergraduate students and is relatively competitive, with a 27.39% acceptance rate. University of South Florida-St Petersburg offers 43 different majors and is best known for its criminology, social sciences, and entrepreneurship programs (nationally ranked 25th, 28th, and 36th respectively). With a tuition cost of $4,206 for in-state students and $15,121 for those from out-of-state, University of South Florida-St Petersburg is moderately priced. 65.22% of students graduate ready to the next stage of their lives, employment. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $43,500 per year, which is 5% above the national median.
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St. Petersburg, FL
https://www.usfsp.edu
A-
Rating
27%
Acceptance
5,694
Students
# 74
Ranking
$15,121
Tuition