Minnesota · Criminology

Best colleges for Criminology in Minnesota

Ranked by graduate earnings

University of Minnesota-Duluth, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and Hamline University are the top bachelor's Criminology programs in Minnesota by graduate earnings. University of Minnesota-Duluth leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $42,562, College Scorecard. University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, University of Minnesota-Duluth and Hamline University award the most Criminology degrees in Minnesota: 114, 51 and 30 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 5 Minnesota colleges offer Criminology and award 215 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
5
offering CIP 45.04
States offered
47
with a program page
Degrees / yr
215
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$41,780
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
4
College Scorecard
Median net price
$26,706
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
66%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Sociologists
—
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 4 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 Minnesota-Duluth
Duluth Public · Bachelor's degree
$42,5625165%—$23,887
2University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Minneapolis Public · Bachelor's degree
$41,78011485%—$20,500
3Hamline University
Saint Paul Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$41,2043060%$20,981$26,500
4University of St Thomas
Saint Paul Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program
$41,7801976%$28,888$27,000

Colleges awarding the most Criminology degrees in Minnesota

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.

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 Minnesota-Twin Cities
Minneapolis Public
114$41,780
2University of Minnesota-Duluth
Duluth Public
51$42,562
3Hamline University
Saint Paul Private not-for-profit
30$41,204
4University of St Thomas
Saint Paul Private not-for-profit
19$41,780
5Crown College
Saint Bonifacius Private not-for-profit
1Not reported

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 Minnesota

Jobs in Minnesota
—
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
—
annual
Best-paying metro
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Related careers

Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other
$55,390 avg · 1,350 jobs
Psychologists, All Other
$105,280 avg · 330 jobs
Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary
$91,350 avg · 100 jobs
Sociologists
—

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Criminology programs in Minnesota.

Which Minnesota colleges award the most Criminology degrees?+

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (114 graduates a year), University of Minnesota-Duluth (51 graduates a year) and Hamline University (30 graduates a year) award the most Criminology degrees in Minnesota, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 5 Minnesota colleges offer Criminology.

What is the best college for Criminology in Minnesota?+

By graduate earnings, University of Minnesota-Duluth leads among bachelor's Criminology programs in Minnesota, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $42,562, College Scorecard. University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and Hamline University follow. By degrees awarded, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities is the largest, with 114 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

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

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Minnesota-Duluth tops the list at $42,562. 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.

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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