Best colleges for Criminology in Wisconsin
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Wisconsin-River Falls, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and Marquette University are the top bachelor's Criminology programs in Wisconsin by graduate earnings. University of Wisconsin-River Falls leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $45,113, College Scorecard. University of Wisconsin-Madison, Marquette University and University of Wisconsin-Whitewater award the most Criminology degrees in Wisconsin: 249, 58 and 35 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 6 Wisconsin colleges offer Criminology and award 385 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 5 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 | University of Wisconsin-River Falls River Falls Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,113 | 20 | 57% | — | $24,750 |
| 2 | University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Whitewater Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,060 | 35 | 59% | — | $26,000 |
| 3 | Marquette University Milwaukee Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $35,650 | 58 | 83% | $25,376 | $25,000 |
| 4 | University of Wisconsin-Stout Menomonie Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $49,004 | 13 | 55% | — | $27,000 |
| 5 | Lakeland University Plymouth Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $45,276 | 10 | 42% | $20,767 | $26,053 |
Colleges awarding the most Criminology degrees in Wisconsin
Top 6 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 | University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison Public | 249 | Not reported |
| 2 | Marquette University Milwaukee Private not-for-profit | 58 | $35,650 |
| 3 | University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Whitewater Public | 35 | $40,060 |
| 4 | University of Wisconsin-River Falls River Falls Public | 20 | $45,113 |
| 5 | University of Wisconsin-Stout Menomonie Public | 13 | $49,004 |
| 6 | Lakeland University Plymouth Private not-for-profit | 10 | $45,276 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Sociologists (SOC 19-3041).
Top skills
What Sociologists earn in Wisconsin
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Criminology programs in Wisconsin.
Which Wisconsin colleges award the most Criminology degrees?+
University of Wisconsin-Madison (249 graduates a year), Marquette University (58 graduates a year) and University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (35 graduates a year) award the most Criminology degrees in Wisconsin, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 6 Wisconsin colleges offer Criminology.
What is the best college for Criminology in Wisconsin?+
By graduate earnings, University of Wisconsin-River Falls leads among bachelor's Criminology programs in Wisconsin, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $45,113, College Scorecard. University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and Marquette University follow. By degrees awarded, University of Wisconsin-Madison is the largest, with 249 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Criminology program in Wisconsin has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Wisconsin-River Falls tops the list at $45,113. 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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