Best colleges for Criminology in Iowa
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Northern Iowa, Upper Iowa University and University of Iowa are the top bachelor's Criminology programs in Iowa by graduate earnings. University of Northern Iowa leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $43,914, College Scorecard. University of Iowa, Upper Iowa University and University of Northern Iowa award the most Criminology degrees in Iowa: 77, 39 and 33 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 5 Iowa colleges offer Criminology and award 165 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 3 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 | University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,914 | 33 | 68% | — | $24,683 |
| 2 | Upper Iowa University Fayette Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $43,170 | 39 | 34% | $22,697 | $43,447 |
| 3 | University of Iowa Iowa City Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,520 | 77 | 75% | — | $23,250 |
Colleges awarding the most Criminology degrees in Iowa
Top 5 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 Iowa Iowa City Public | 77 | $38,520 |
| 2 | Upper Iowa University Fayette Private not-for-profit | 39 | $43,170 |
| 3 | University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls Public | 33 | $43,914 |
| 4 | William Penn University Oskaloosa Private not-for-profit | 10 | Not reported |
| 5 | Buena Vista University Storm Lake Private not-for-profit | 6 | Not reported |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Sociologists (SOC 19-3041).
Top skills
What Sociologists earn in Iowa
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Criminology programs in Iowa.
Which Iowa colleges award the most Criminology degrees?+
University of Iowa (77 graduates a year), Upper Iowa University (39 graduates a year) and University of Northern Iowa (33 graduates a year) award the most Criminology degrees in Iowa, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 5 Iowa colleges offer Criminology.
What is the best college for Criminology in Iowa?+
By graduate earnings, University of Northern Iowa leads among bachelor's Criminology programs in Iowa, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $43,914, College Scorecard. Upper Iowa University and University of Iowa follow. By degrees awarded, University of Iowa is the largest, with 77 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Criminology program in Iowa has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Northern Iowa tops the list at $43,914. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
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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