Best colleges for Criminology in Virginia
Ranked by graduate earnings
Old Dominion University, Virginia Union University and University of Lynchburg award the most Criminology degrees and certificates in Virginia: 152, 30 and 28 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 5 Virginia colleges offer Criminology and award 236 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 2 institutions, 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 | Old Dominion University Norfolk Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,255 | 152 | 46% | — | $25,000 |
| 2 | Virginia Union University Richmond Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $30,291 | 30 | 34% | $21,249 | $31,450 |
Colleges awarding the most Criminology degrees in Virginia
Top 5 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). 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 | Old Dominion University Norfolk Public | 152 | $37,255 |
| 2 | Virginia Union University Richmond Private not-for-profit | 30 | $30,291 |
| 3 | University of Lynchburg Lynchburg Private not-for-profit | 28 | Not reported |
| 4 | Mary Baldwin University Staunton Private not-for-profit | 17 | Not reported |
| 5 | Randolph-Macon College Ashland Private not-for-profit | 9 | Not reported |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Sociologists (SOC 19-3041).
Top skills
What Sociologists earn in Virginia
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Criminology programs in Virginia.
Which Virginia colleges award the most Criminology degrees?+
Old Dominion University (152 graduates a year), Virginia Union University (30 graduates a year) and University of Lynchburg (28 graduates a year) award the most Criminology degrees and certificates in Virginia, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 5 Virginia colleges offer Criminology.
Which Criminology program in Virginia has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Old Dominion University tops the list at $37,255. 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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