Best colleges for Criminology in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
California State University - San Marcos, University of California-Irvine and University of La Verne are the top bachelor's Criminology programs in California by graduate earnings. California State University - San Marcos leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $34,694, College Scorecard. University of California-Irvine, California State University - Fresno and California State University - San Marcos award the most Criminology degrees in California: 380, 304 and 202 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 14 California colleges offer Criminology and award 1,142 degrees and certificates a year in all.
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 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | 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 |
Colleges awarding the most Criminology degrees in California
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Irvine Irvine Public | 380 | $34,522 |
| 2 | California State University - Fresno Fresno Public | 304 | $31,224 |
| 3 | California State University - San Marcos San Marcos Public | 202 | $34,694 |
| 4 | California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Pomona Public | 77 | Not reported |
| 5 | University of La Verne La Verne Private not-for-profit | 52 | $34,292 |
| 6 | California Lutheran University Thousand Oaks Private not-for-profit | 35 | $31,963 |
| 7 | California State Polytechnic University - Humboldt Arcata Public | 31 | $29,123 |
| 8 | Fresno Pacific University Fresno Private not-for-profit | 21 | Not reported |
| 9 | San Diego State University San Diego Public | 15 | Not reported |
| 10 | San Jose State University San Jose Public | 7 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 4 California colleges offering Criminology
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Chicago School at Los Angeles (Online) | Los Angeles | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Alliant International University - San Diego (Online) | San Diego | Private for-profit | 5 |
| Mount Saint Mary's University | Los Angeles | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Dominican University of California | San Rafael | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
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 California colleges award the most Criminology degrees?+
University of California-Irvine (380 graduates a year), California State University - Fresno (304 graduates a year) and California State University - San Marcos (202 graduates a year) award the most Criminology degrees in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 14 California colleges offer Criminology.
What is the best college for Criminology in California?+
By graduate earnings, California State University - San Marcos leads among bachelor's Criminology programs in California, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $34,694, College Scorecard. University of California-Irvine and University of La Verne follow. By degrees awarded, University of California-Irvine is the largest, with 380 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Criminology program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, California State University - San Marcos tops the list at $34,694. Compare it against graduates a year, 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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