Best colleges for Criminology in Ohio
Ranked by graduate earnings
Ohio State University, Wright State University and Capital University are the top bachelor's Criminology programs in Ohio by graduate earnings. Ohio State University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $39,396, College Scorecard. Ohio State University, Cleveland State University and Bowling Green State University award the most Criminology degrees in Ohio: 142, 52 and 31 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 14 Ohio colleges offer Criminology and award 330 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 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.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ohio State University Columbus Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,396 | 142 | 88% | — | $21,922 |
| 2 | Wright State University Dayton Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,476 | 23 | 42% | — | $27,250 |
| 3 | Capital University Columbus Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $32,984 | 23 | 60% | $22,920 | $27,000 |
| 4 | Cleveland State University Cleveland Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,393 | 52 | 51% | — | $25,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Criminology degrees in Ohio
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 | Ohio State University Columbus Public | 142 | $39,396 |
| 2 | Cleveland State University Cleveland Public | 52 | $32,393 |
| 3 | Bowling Green State University Bowling Green Public | 31 | Not reported |
| 4 | Capital University Columbus Private not-for-profit | 23 | $32,984 |
| 5 | Wright State University Dayton Public | 23 | $37,476 |
| 6 | Tiffin University Tiffin Private not-for-profit | 14 | Not reported |
| 7 | Otterbein University Westerville Private not-for-profit | 12 | Not reported |
| 8 | University of Cincinnati Cincinnati Public | 9 | Not reported |
| 9 | Heidelberg University Tiffin Private not-for-profit | 7 | Not reported |
| 10 | Hiram College Hiram Private not-for-profit | 7 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 4 Ohio colleges offering Criminology
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount St. Joseph University | Cincinnati | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Ohio Dominican University | Columbus | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Wright State University - Lake Campus | Celina | Public | 2 |
| Ursuline College | Pepper Pike | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Sociologists (SOC 19-3041).
Top skills
What Sociologists earn in Ohio
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Criminology programs in Ohio.
Which Ohio colleges award the most Criminology degrees?+
Ohio State University (142 graduates a year), Cleveland State University (52 graduates a year) and Bowling Green State University (31 graduates a year) award the most Criminology degrees in Ohio, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 14 Ohio colleges offer Criminology.
What is the best college for Criminology in Ohio?+
By graduate earnings, Ohio State University leads among bachelor's Criminology programs in Ohio, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $39,396, College Scorecard. Wright State University and Capital University follow. By degrees awarded, Ohio State University is the largest, with 142 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Criminology program in Ohio has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Ohio State University tops the list at $39,396. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Sociologists earn in Ohio?+
The average annual wage for Sociologists in Ohio is $84,440 (median $78,850), across about 130 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.
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