Best colleges for Criminology
Ranked by graduate earnings
The top bachelor's colleges for Criminology by graduate earnings are University of Southern Maine ($47,726), Saint Anselm College ($46,814) and University of Wisconsin-River Falls ($45,113), based on median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, among programs with at least 20 graduates a year, excluding online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools and those with a graduation rate under 30%.
- University of Southern Maine (Portland, ME): $47,726, 25 graduates a year
- Saint Anselm College (Manchester, NH): $46,814, 34 graduates a year
- University of Wisconsin-River Falls (River Falls, WI): $45,113, 20 graduates a year
- University of Northern Iowa (Cedar Falls, IA): $43,914, 33 graduates a year
- University of Maryland-College Park (College Park, MD): $43,698, 361 graduates a year
Compare 230 U.S. colleges offering Criminology by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 47 states.
Criminology programs report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $37,255 (College Scorecard, 2019), and map to CIP 45.04 and the Sociologists occupation (BLS SOC).
About Criminology programs
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 interested in understanding the complexities of criminal behavior and the justice system. Criminology prepares students for a wide range of roles in research, policy-making, and education.
In a criminology program, students develop essential skills such as critical thinking, active listening, and effective communication. Coursework covers topics in sociology, anthropology, and legal studies, equipping students with the knowledge to analyze social behavior, conduct research, and evaluate methods of data collection.
Top 25 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, predominant credential. 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 Southern Maine Portland, ME Public · Bachelor's degree | $47,726 | 25 | 40% | — | $23,565 |
| 2 | Saint Anselm College Manchester, NH Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $46,814 | 34 | 80% | $29,600 | $27,000 |
| 3 | University of Wisconsin-River Falls River Falls, WI Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,113 | 20 | 57% | — | $24,750 |
| 4 | University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls, IA Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,914 | 33 | 68% | — | $24,683 |
| 5 | University of Maryland-College Park College Park, MD Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,698 | 361 | 89% | — | $19,500 |
| 6 | Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $43,283 | 42 | 79% | $34,418 | $25,000 |
| 7 | Mount St. Mary's University Emmitsburg, MD Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $43,230 | 22 | 65% | $23,136 | $27,000 |
| 8 | Upper Iowa University Fayette, IA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $43,170 | 39 | 34% | $22,697 | $43,447 |
| 9 | University of Minnesota-Duluth Duluth, MN Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,562 | 51 | 65% | — | $23,887 |
| 10 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,780 | 114 | 85% | — | $20,500 |
| 11 | Framingham State University Framingham, MA Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,431 | 41 | 48% | — | $25,974 |
| 12 | Hamline University Saint Paul, MN Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $41,204 | 30 | 60% | $20,981 | $26,500 |
| 13 | Stonehill College Easton, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $40,928 | 41 | 76% | $24,000 | $25,000 |
| 14 | Central Connecticut State University New Britain, CT Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,713 | 105 | 48% | — | $23,995 |
| 15 | University of Denver Denver, CO Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $40,667 | 21 | 76% | $29,726 | $22,000 |
| 16 | Lycoming College Williamsport, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $40,646 | 26 | 60% | $17,924 | $27,000 |
| 17 | The University of Texas at Dallas Richardson, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,603 | 92 | 76% | — | $20,500 |
| 18 | Lasell University Newton, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $40,527 | 78 | 59% | $23,724 | $27,000 |
| 19 | Drexel University Philadelphia, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $40,229 | 25 | 78% | $36,004 | $27,000 |
| 20 | Eastern Washington University Cheney, WA Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,228 | 60 | 43% | — | $19,295 |
| 21 | University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Whitewater, WI Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,060 | 35 | 59% | — | $26,000 |
| 22 | Indiana State University Terre Haute, IN Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,769 | 80 | 43% | — | $24,970 |
| 23 | Eastern Connecticut State University Willimantic, CT Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,705 | 48 | 58% | — | $25,000 |
| 24 | Ohio State University Columbus, OH Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,396 | 142 | 88% | — | $21,922 |
| 25 | SUNY Old Westbury Old Westbury, NY Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,764 | 52 | 45% | — | $17,800 |
Specializations within Criminology
1 of the 1 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 45.04 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
Offered across 47 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-3041, Sociologists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of criminology programs can pursue careers in various fields, with a median wage of $101,690. The job outlook is about as fast as average, with an estimated growth rate of 3.6% and approximately 300 annual openings. A typical requirement for these roles is a master's degree.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Criminology
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 45.04.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 45.04 (Criminology) maps to 5 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 11-9199 | Managers, All Other |
| 19-3039 | Psychologists, All Other |
| 19-3041 | Sociologistsprimary |
| 19-4099 | Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other |
| 25-1111 | Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Criminology programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Analyze and interpret data to increase the understanding of human social behavior.
- Prepare publications and reports containing research findings.
- Develop, implement, and evaluate methods of data collection, such as questionnaires or interviews.
- Collect data about the attitudes, values, and behaviors of people in groups, using observation, interviews, and review of documents.
- Teach sociology.
- Plan and conduct research to develop and test theories about societal issues such as crime, group relations, poverty, and aging.
Common questions
What is criminology?+
Criminology is the interdisciplinary study of crime and deviant behavior, incorporating insights from various social sciences.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, active listening, writing, and data analysis.
What are the career prospects for criminology graduates?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a median wage of $101,690 and approximately 300 annual openings.
What level of education is typically required?+
A master's degree is typically required for careers in criminology.
How much do Criminology graduates earn?+
Criminology graduates report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $37,255, College Scorecard (2019); the Sociologists occupation pays about $114,920 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Criminology?+
Criminology maps to CIP 45.04 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
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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