Illinois · Criminology

Best Criminology institutions in Illinois, ranked by earnings

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
12
offering CIP 45.04
States offered
9
with a program page
Degrees / yr
232
IPEDS completions 2026
Median grad earnings
$31,758
1 year after graduation
With earnings data
4
College Scorecard
Median net price
$20,052
IPEDS 2026
Avg graduation rate
53%
IPEDS 2026
State pay · Sociologists
$138,640
BLS OEWS 2024

Top 4 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard).

#InstitutionGrad earnings (1 yr)CompletionsGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Concordia University - Chicago
River Forest Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$41,724336%$17,620
2Southern Illinois University - Carbondale
Carbondale Public · Bachelor's degree
$37,6456562%$24,000
3Dominican University
River Forest Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$31,758655%$16,176$27,000
4National Louis University
Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$30,1704930%$18,904$23,437

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 Illinois

Jobs in Illinois
BLS OEWS May 2024
State average pay
$138,640
median $134,730
Best-paying metro
$140,040
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN

Related careers

Psychologists, All Other
$92,810 avg · 960 jobs
Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other
$57,480 avg · 930 jobs
Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary
$72,760 avg · 370 jobs
Sociologists
$138,640

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Criminology programs in Illinois.

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

By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), Concordia University - Chicago tops the list at $41,724. Compare it against completions, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Sociologists earn in Illinois?+

The average annual wage for Sociologists in Illinois is $138,640 (median $134,730). Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.

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).

Explore every U.S. college in one conversation

Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.

Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card