Criminology programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their criminology programs.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 249 schools to find the best for criminology students.
Our analysis ranked University Of Maryland College Park the best school in the country for a degree in criminology. Located in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. There were roughly 290 criminology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $43,698. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
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University Of Pennsylvania is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminology, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. University Of Pennsylvania graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 19 criminology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $99,682 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,155.
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University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminology, ranking #3. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. There were roughly 94 criminology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent data year. Criminology graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $41,780 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong criminology program will find one at University Of California Irvine, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public university. University Of California Irvine graduates 87% of students within six years. University Of California Irvine awarded about 358 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from University Of California Irvine generally make around $34,522. Typical student debt for the program is $15,865.
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Ohio State University Main Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminology, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 162 criminology students who graduated with this degree at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $39,396. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $21,922 in student loans.
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North Carolina State University At Raleigh came in at #6 for criminology this year. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public school located in the city of Raleigh. About 85% of students finish within six years. North Carolina State University At Raleigh awarded about 86 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminology degree from North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn around $35,076 in the first couple years of their career. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates carry a median of $21,875 in student loans.
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University Of Florida placed #7 among the best criminology schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Gainesville. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. University Of Florida awarded about 162 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $35,096 in their early career. University Of Florida graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans.
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University Of Utah came in at #8 for criminology this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Salt Lake City. About 65% of students finish within six years. About 97 criminology degrees were awarded at University Of Utah in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $60,527 in their early career. University Of Utah graduates carry a median of $20,798 in student loans.
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California State Polytechnic University Pomona earned the #9 position for criminology this year. Located in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public university. California State Polytechnic University Pomona graduates 68% of students within six years. California State Polytechnic University Pomona awarded about 105 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $49,427 in their early career. California State Polytechnic University Pomona graduates carry a median of $17,226 in student loans.
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University Of Delaware ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best criminology schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Newark. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. About 85 criminology degrees were awarded at University Of Delaware in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $35,968 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,685.
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Gonzaga University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best criminology schools. Gonzaga University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Spokane. Gonzaga University graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 24 criminology students who graduated with this degree at Gonzaga University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminology degree from Gonzaga University earn around $38,028 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,994.
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Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best criminology schools. Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public school located in the city of New York. About 56% of students finish within six years. About 165 criminology degrees were awarded at Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $33,798 in their early career. Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans.
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University Of Iowa ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best criminology schools. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. There were roughly 58 criminology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Iowa in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminology degree from University Of Iowa earn around $38,520 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
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Clemson University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best criminology schools. Located in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public university. Clemson University graduates 87% of students within six years. About 104 criminology degrees were awarded at Clemson University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Clemson University generally make around $38,057. Typical student debt for the program is $22,375.
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Washington State University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best criminology schools. Set in the town of Pullman, Washington State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. There were roughly 165 criminology students who graduated with this degree at Washington State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Washington State University generally make around $54,697. Typical student debt for the program is $21,903.
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The University Of Texas At Dallas ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best criminology schools. The University Of Texas At Dallas is a very large public school located in the city of Richardson. About 76% of students finish within six years. About 68 criminology degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Dallas in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminology degree from The University Of Texas At Dallas earn around $40,603 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
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University Of Minnesota Duluth earned the #17 position for criminology this year. Set in the city of Duluth, University Of Minnesota Duluth is a large public institution. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 51 criminology degrees were awarded at University Of Minnesota Duluth in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Duluth generally make around $42,562. University Of Minnesota Duluth graduates carry a median of $23,887 in student loans.
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University Of Missouri Kansas City placed #18 among the best criminology schools. This large public university is located in the city of Kansas City. University Of Missouri Kansas City graduates 54% of students within six years. University Of Missouri Kansas City awarded about 44 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminology degree from University Of Missouri Kansas City earn around $60,324 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Missouri Kansas City graduates carry a median of $23,741 in student loans.
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California State University San Marcos came in at #19 for criminology this year. Set in the suburb of San Marcos, California State University San Marcos is a large public institution. California State University San Marcos graduates 55% of students within six years. California State University San Marcos awarded about 178 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminology degree from California State University San Marcos earn around $34,694 in the first couple years of their career. California State University San Marcos graduates carry a median of $14,810 in student loans.
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Wilkes University landed the #20 spot for criminology this year. Set in the city of Wilkes-Barre, Wilkes University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 12 criminology degrees were awarded at Wilkes University in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $64,004 in their early career. Wilkes University graduates carry a median of $26,601 in student loans.
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University Of Miami came in at #21 for criminology this year. University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Coral Gables. University Of Miami graduates 84% of students within six years. University Of Miami awarded about 29 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $29,670 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,500 to complete this degree.
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Pennsylvania Western University landed the #22 spot for criminology this year. Pennsylvania Western University is a large public school located in the town of California. Pennsylvania Western University graduates 52% of students within six years. There were roughly 89 criminology students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania Western University in the most recent data year.
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University At Buffalo earned the #23 position for criminology this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Buffalo. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 66 criminology students who graduated with this degree at University At Buffalo in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $52,403 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,232.
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Stonehill College came in at #24 for criminology this year. Set in the suburb of Easton, Stonehill College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 76% of students finish within six years. About 46 criminology degrees were awarded at Stonehill College in the most recent year. Criminology graduates of Stonehill College earn a median of $40,928 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
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University Of South Florida Main Campus landed the #25 spot for criminology this year. Set in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 388 criminology students who graduated with this degree at University Of South Florida Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from University Of South Florida Main Campus generally make around $37,108. Students borrow a median of $20,302 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 50 Criminology Schools
These schools also placed among the best for criminology this year:
The ranking above is published 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 · 249 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).
