Florida · Criminology

Best colleges for Criminology in Florida

Ranked by graduate earnings

University of South Florida, University of Florida and The University of Tampa are the top bachelor's Criminology programs in Florida by graduate earnings. University of South Florida leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $37,108, College Scorecard. University of South Florida, University of Florida and The University of Tampa award the most Criminology degrees in Florida: 425, 184 and 182 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 9 Florida colleges offer Criminology and award 971 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…

Institutions
9
offering CIP 45.04
States offered
47
with a program page
Degrees / yr
971
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$35,096
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
8
College Scorecard
Median net price
$28,070
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
71%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Sociologists
$86,550
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 7 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.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1University of South Florida
Tampa Public · Bachelor's degree
$37,10842577%—$20,302
2University of Florida
Gainesville Public · Bachelor's degree
$35,09618491%—$19,500
3The University of Tampa
Tampa Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$34,13718264%$33,070$25,000
4University of Miami
Coral Gables Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$29,6704584%$26,589$16,500
5Flagler College
Saint Augustine Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$29,2403456%$28,070$25,625
6Barry University
Miami Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program
$44,0151538%$24,719$27,000
7Florida Southern College
Lakeland Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program
$39,7131971%$28,325$26,000

Colleges awarding the most Criminology degrees in Florida

Top 8 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.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1University of South Florida
Tampa Public
425$37,108
2University of Florida
Gainesville Public
184$35,096
3The University of Tampa
Tampa Private not-for-profit
182$34,137
4University of Miami
Coral Gables Private not-for-profit
45$29,670
5Flagler College
Saint Augustine Private not-for-profit
34$29,240
6Ana G. Mendez University
Orlando Private not-for-profit
27Not reported
7Florida Southern College
Lakeland Private not-for-profit
19$39,713
8Barry University
Miami Private not-for-profit
15$44,015
Show the other 1 Florida colleges offering Criminology
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
University of Florida-Online (Online)GainesvillePublic40

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Sociologists (SOC 19-3041).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+3.6%
About as fast as average
Openings / yr (US)
~300
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$101,690
typically Master's degree

Top skills

SpeakingActive ListeningWritingActive LearningReading ComprehensionCritical Thinking

What Sociologists earn in Florida

Jobs in Florida
160
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$86,550
median $46,950
Best-paying metro
—

Related careers

Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other
$66,670 avg · 1,830 jobs
Psychologists, All Other
$126,600 avg · 910 jobs
Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary
$67,820 avg · 840 jobs
Sociologists
$86,550 avg · 160 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Criminology programs in Florida.

Which Florida colleges award the most Criminology degrees?+

University of South Florida (425 graduates a year), University of Florida (184 graduates a year) and The University of Tampa (182 graduates a year) award the most Criminology degrees in Florida, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 9 Florida colleges offer Criminology.

What is the best college for Criminology in Florida?+

By graduate earnings, University of South Florida leads among bachelor's Criminology programs in Florida, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $37,108, College Scorecard. University of Florida and The University of Tampa follow. By degrees awarded, University of South Florida is the largest, with 425 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

Which Criminology program in Florida has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of South Florida tops the list at $37,108. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Sociologists earn in Florida?+

The average annual wage for Sociologists in Florida is $86,550 (median $46,950), across about 160 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.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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