Best institutions to study Criminology in California
Criminology is the interdisciplinary study of crime and deviant behavior, situated within the field of social sciences. This program draws from various disciplines, including sociology, psychology, and law, making it ideal for students…
Top 6 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard).
| # | Institution | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Completions | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California State University - San Marcos San Marcos Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,694 | 202 | 55% | — | $14,810 |
| 2 | University of California - Irvine Irvine Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,522 | 380 | 87% | — | $15,865 |
| 3 | University of La Verne La Verne Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $34,292 | 52 | 63% | $45,461 | $26,000 |
| 4 | California Lutheran University Thousand Oaks Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $31,963 | 35 | 70% | $23,129 | $17,250 |
| 5 | California State University - Fresno Fresno Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,224 | 304 | 57% | — | $10,773 |
| 6 | California State Polytechnic University - Humboldt Arcata Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,123 | 31 | 49% | — | $16,849 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Sociologists (SOC 19-3041).
Top skills
What Sociologists earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Criminology programs in California.
Which Criminology program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), California State University - San Marcos tops the list at $34,694. Compare it against completions, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Sociologists earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Sociologists in California is $123,090 (median $125,770), across about 590 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Criminology program?+
Criminology is the interdisciplinary study of crime and deviant behavior, situated within the field of social sciences. This program draws from various disciplines, including sociology, psychology, and law, making it ideal for students…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop speaking, active listening, writing, active learning, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Sociologists?+
The national job outlook is about +3.6% growth with around 300 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Master's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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