Best colleges for Criminology in New York
Ranked by graduate earnings
SUNY Old Westbury, Niagara University and Hofstra University are the top bachelor's Criminology programs in New York by graduate earnings. SUNY Old Westbury leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $38,764, College Scorecard. CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice, University at Buffalo and Niagara University award the most Criminology degrees in New York: 224, 116 and 58 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 14 New York colleges offer Criminology and award 664 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 | SUNY Old Westbury Old Westbury Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,764 | 52 | 45% | — | $17,800 |
| 2 | Niagara University Niagara University Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $36,781 | 58 | 75% | $17,048 | $27,000 |
| 3 | Hofstra University Hempstead Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $35,249 | 34 | 69% | $34,539 | $25,000 |
| 4 | State University of New York at Cortland Cortland Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,768 | 54 | 68% | — | $21,500 |
| 5 | CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice New York Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,798 | 224 | 56% | — | $11,000 |
| 6 | St. John Fisher University Rochester Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $33,623 | 21 | 74% | $25,213 | $24,750 |
Colleges awarding the most Criminology degrees in New York
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 | CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice New York Public | 224 | $33,798 |
| 2 | University at Buffalo Buffalo Public | 116 | Not reported |
| 3 | Niagara University Niagara University Private not-for-profit | 58 | $36,781 |
| 4 | State University of New York at Cortland Cortland Public | 54 | $34,768 |
| 5 | SUNY Old Westbury Old Westbury Public | 52 | $38,764 |
| 6 | Hofstra University Hempstead Private not-for-profit | 34 | $35,249 |
| 7 | SUNY College of Technology at Canton Canton Public | 25 | Not reported |
| 8 | St. John Fisher University Rochester Private not-for-profit | 21 | $33,623 |
| 9 | Le Moyne College Syracuse Private not-for-profit | 20 | Not reported |
| 10 | St Bonaventure University Saint Bonaventure Private not-for-profit | 17 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 4 New York colleges offering Criminology
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Siena University | Loudonville | Private not-for-profit | 17 |
| Mount Saint Mary College | Newburgh | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| St. John's University - New York | Queens | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Manhattan University | Riverdale | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Sociologists (SOC 19-3041).
Top skills
What Sociologists earn in New York
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Criminology programs in New York.
Which New York colleges award the most Criminology degrees?+
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice (224 graduates a year), University at Buffalo (116 graduates a year) and Niagara University (58 graduates a year) award the most Criminology degrees in New York, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 14 New York colleges offer Criminology.
What is the best college for Criminology in New York?+
By graduate earnings, SUNY Old Westbury leads among bachelor's Criminology programs in New York, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $38,764, College Scorecard. Niagara University and Hofstra University follow. By degrees awarded, CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice is the largest, with 224 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Criminology program in New York has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, SUNY Old Westbury tops the list at $38,764. 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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