2026 Best Criminology Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best Criminology associate’s degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 249 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
So you can compare your options, Course Advisor evaluated schools to produce this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Criminology Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools:
A rank of #2 makes Upper Iowa University one of the top choices in the United States. Based in Fayette, IA, Upper Iowa University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 33% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $19,475 in tuition and fees. The median Criminology program debt is $43,447. Read the full report on Upper Iowa University
The strong Criminology programs at Central New Mexico Community College earned it the #3 place in the United States. Central New Mexico Community College is a public school based in Albuquerque, NM. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,060, compared with $8,684 for out-of-state students. Central New Mexico Community College Criminology students take on a median of $10,112 in debt. Read the full report on Central New Mexico Community College
You'll be in good company at Rockford College, which ranked #3 this year. Get the full Rockford College report
You'll be in good company at Lasell College, which ranked #4 this year. Read more about Lasell College
Carlow University came in at #5 on this year's Criminology ranking in the United States. Read the full report on Carlow University
Azusa Pacific University placed #6 among Criminology schools in the United States. Read the full report on Azusa Pacific University
Eastern Michigan University placed #7 among Criminology schools in the United States. See the full Eastern Michigan University profile
University Of Maryland Eastern Shore placed #8 among Criminology schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of Maryland Eastern Shore
Arkansas State University Main Campus came in at #9 in this year's ranking. More on Arkansas State University Main Campus
Texas Tech University came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Get the full Texas Tech University report
Avila University
Avila University did well this year, earning the #11 position. Read more about Avila University
College Of Mount St Joseph ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best Criminology schools. Read the full report on College Of Mount St Joseph
The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best Criminology schools. See the full The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin profile
Oklahoma Baptist University landed the #14 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Oklahoma Baptist University
Baker University
Baker University placed #15 among Criminology schools in the United States. Read the full report on Baker University
Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Mayaguez came in at #16 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Mayaguez
Le Moyne College
Le Moyne College placed #17 among Criminology schools in the United States. Read the full report on Le Moyne College
Benedictine College placed #18 among Criminology schools in the United States. More on Benedictine College
Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Get the full Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham report
University Of Maryland College Park ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best Criminology schools. Read more about University Of Maryland College Park
Letourneau University placed #21 among Criminology schools in the United States. Read more about Letourneau University
Nebraska Wesleyan University came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Read more about Nebraska Wesleyan University
Missouri State University Springfield did well this year, earning the #23 position. Read more about Missouri State University Springfield
Utah State University placed #24 among Criminology schools in the United States. Read more about Utah State University
Pennsylvania Western University came in at #25 in this year's ranking. See the full Pennsylvania Western University profile
Rest of the Top 50 Best Criminology Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also placed among the very best this year:
Alliant International University ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best Criminology schools. More on Alliant International University
Old Dominion University landed the #27 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Old Dominion University
Hamline University ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best Criminology schools. Get the full Hamline University report
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte landed the #29 spot in the United States this year. More on University Of North Carolina At Charlotte
Catholic University Of America came in at #30 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Catholic University Of America
Fort Lewis College ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best Criminology schools. More on Fort Lewis College
George Washington University did well this year, earning the #32 position. Read the full report on George Washington University
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington landed the #33 spot in the United States this year. Get the full University Of North Carolina At Wilmington report
Concordia University Chicago did well this year, earning the #34 position. Read more about Concordia University Chicago
The University Of Alabama did well this year, earning the #35 position. Get the full The University Of Alabama report
University Of Southern Maine came in at #36 in this year's ranking. More on University Of Southern Maine
Cuny Graduate School And University Center ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best Criminology schools. Get the full Cuny Graduate School And University Center report
Purdue University Global came in at #38 in this year's ranking. More on Purdue University Global
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee did well this year, earning the #39 position. More on University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee
Cedar Crest College ranked #40 on our 2026 list of the best Criminology schools. See the full Cedar Crest College profile
Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Ponce landed the #41 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Ponce
Tabor College
Tabor College came in at #42 in this year's ranking. Read more about Tabor College
California State University San Marcos came in at #43 in this year's ranking. Get the full California State University San Marcos report
University Of Pennsylvania ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best Criminology schools. More on University Of Pennsylvania
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best Criminology schools. Get the full University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth report
College Of Notre Dame Of Maryland ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best Criminology schools. Read the full report on College Of Notre Dame Of Maryland
Regis University
Regis University placed #47 among Criminology schools in the United States. Read the full report on Regis University
Central Connecticut State University placed #48 among Criminology schools in the United States. Get the full Central Connecticut State University report
University Of Akron Main Campus landed the #49 spot in the United States this year. See the full University Of Akron Main Campus profile
Randolph Macon College ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best Criminology schools. More on Randolph Macon College
Related Criminology Rankings
Compare rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Criminology Schools (All Levels)
- Best Criminology Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Criminology Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Criminology Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Criminology Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Criminology Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Criminology Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 249 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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