Best colleges for Criminology in Pennsylvania
Ranked by graduate earnings
Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia, Lycoming College and Drexel University are the top bachelor's Criminology programs in Pennsylvania by graduate earnings. Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $43,283, College Scorecard. Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania and Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia award the most Criminology degrees in Pennsylvania: 131, 44 and 42 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 20 Pennsylvania colleges offer Criminology and award 478 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 8 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 | Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia Philadelphia Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $43,283 | 42 | 79% | $34,418 | $25,000 |
| 2 | Lycoming College Williamsport Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $40,646 | 26 | 60% | $17,924 | $27,000 |
| 3 | Drexel University Philadelphia Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $40,229 | 25 | 78% | $36,004 | $27,000 |
| 4 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania Indiana Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,911 | 131 | 56% | — | $27,000 |
| 5 | Saint Vincent College Latrobe Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $37,563 | 21 | 69% | $21,124 | $27,000 |
| 6 | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Slippery Rock Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,276 | 44 | 66% | — | $25,990 |
| 7 | Arcadia University Glenside Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $33,823 | 22 | 67% | $23,796 | $26,000 |
| 8 | Lebanon Valley College Annville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $38,828 | 9 | 65% | $24,925 | — |
Colleges awarding the most Criminology degrees in Pennsylvania
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 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania Indiana Public | 131 | $37,911 |
| 2 | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Slippery Rock Public | 44 | $36,276 |
| 3 | Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia Philadelphia Private not-for-profit | 42 | $43,283 |
| 4 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia Private not-for-profit | 34 | Not reported |
| 5 | Lycoming College Williamsport Private not-for-profit | 26 | $40,646 |
| 6 | Drexel University Philadelphia Private not-for-profit | 25 | $40,229 |
| 7 | Villanova University Villanova Private not-for-profit | 25 | Not reported |
| 8 | Cedar Crest College Allentown Private not-for-profit | 24 | Not reported |
| 9 | Arcadia University Glenside Private not-for-profit | 22 | $33,823 |
| 10 | Saint Vincent College Latrobe Private not-for-profit | 21 | $37,563 |
ShowHide the other 10 Pennsylvania colleges offering Criminology
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilkes University | Wilkes-Barre | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| Albright College | Reading | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Westmoreland County Community College | Youngwood | Public | 10 |
| Carlow University | Pittsburgh | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Lebanon Valley College | Annville | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Pennsylvania Western University | California | Public | 9 |
| Chatham University | Pittsburgh | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Geneva College | Beaver Falls | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Pennsylvania State University | University Park | Public | 5 |
| Rosemont College | Rosemont | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Sociologists (SOC 19-3041).
Top skills
What Sociologists earn in Pennsylvania
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Criminology programs in Pennsylvania.
Which Pennsylvania colleges award the most Criminology degrees?+
Indiana University of Pennsylvania (131 graduates a year), Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania (44 graduates a year) and Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia (42 graduates a year) award the most Criminology degrees in Pennsylvania, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 20 Pennsylvania colleges offer Criminology.
What is the best college for Criminology in Pennsylvania?+
By graduate earnings, Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia leads among bachelor's Criminology programs in Pennsylvania, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $43,283, College Scorecard. Lycoming College and Drexel University follow. By degrees awarded, Indiana University of Pennsylvania is the largest, with 131 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Criminology program in Pennsylvania has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia tops the list at $43,283. 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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