2026 Best Criminology Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best Criminology certificate 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.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor analyzed 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 Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools:
No school ranked higher than University Of Wisconsin Madison this year in the United States. Based in Madison, WI, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,603, compared with $42,103 for out-of-state students. Typical Criminology student debt is $21,813. Get the full University Of Wisconsin Madison report
Out of the 249 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Missouri State University Springfield landed the #2 spot. Located in Springfield, MO, Missouri State University Springfield is a public institution. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $9,502 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,770. Missouri State University Springfield Criminology students take on a median of $24,187 in debt. Read the full report on Missouri State University Springfield
A rank of #3 makes University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee one of the top choices in the United States. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a public school based in Milwaukee, WI. About 53% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $10,398, while out-of-state students pay about $22,398. Graduates carry a median of $26,657 in student loans. More on University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee
The strong Criminology programs at University Of St Thomas Texas earned it the #4 place in the United States. Read the full report on University Of St Thomas Texas
Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Mayaguez came in at #5 on this year's Criminology ranking in the United States. Read the full report on Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Mayaguez
Depaul University came in at #6 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Depaul University
Barry University did well this year, earning the #7 position. More on Barry University
Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Ponce did well this year, earning the #8 position. More on Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Ponce
Mary Baldwin College came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Mary Baldwin College
Universidad Del Turabo ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best Criminology schools. More on Universidad Del Turabo
Saint Josephs University did well this year, earning the #11 position. Read the full report on Saint Josephs University
Alliant International University did well this year, earning the #12 position. Read more about Alliant International University
Clemson University landed the #13 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Clemson University
Dominican University Of California ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best Criminology schools. See the full Dominican University Of California profile
Concordia University Texas placed #15 among Criminology schools in the United States. Read more about Concordia University Texas
National Louis University landed the #16 spot in the United States this year. Read more about National Louis University
The University Of Tampa placed #17 among Criminology schools in the United States. More on The University Of Tampa
Bloomfield College placed #18 among Criminology schools in the United States. See the full Bloomfield College profile
Coker College
Coker College came in at #19 in this year's ranking. See the full Coker College profile
University Of Iowa did well this year, earning the #20 position. Read the full report on University Of Iowa
Albright College
Albright College landed the #21 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Albright College
California State Polytechnic University Pomona came in at #22 in this year's ranking. More on California State Polytechnic University Pomona
Crown College
Crown College placed #23 among Criminology schools in the United States. Get the full Crown College report
Suny College At Cortland came in at #24 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Suny College At Cortland
University Of Saint Mary landed the #25 spot in the United States this year. Get the full University Of Saint Mary report
Rest of the Top 50 Best Criminology Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also placed among the very best this year:
University Of Mobile came in at #26 in this year's ranking. Get the full University Of Mobile report
Arkansas State University Main Campus placed #27 among Criminology schools in the United States. See the full Arkansas State University Main Campus profile
Benedictine University did well this year, earning the #28 position. Get the full Benedictine University report
Dominican University came in at #29 in this year's ranking. Read more about Dominican University
Adler School Of Professional Psychology came in at #30 in this year's ranking. See the full Adler School Of Professional Psychology profile
Flagler College St Augustine did well this year, earning the #31 position. Read the full report on Flagler College St Augustine
Indiana State University landed the #32 spot in the United States this year. See the full Indiana State University profile
Swarthmore College placed #33 among Criminology schools in the United States. Read more about Swarthmore College
Webster University came in at #34 in this year's ranking. More on Webster University
University Of Missouri Kansas City ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best Criminology schools. See the full University Of Missouri Kansas City profile
Missouri State University West Plains did well this year, earning the #37 position. Read more about Missouri State University West Plains
Saint Anselm College placed #38 among Criminology schools in the United States. Read more about Saint Anselm College
Maryville University Of Saint Louis landed the #39 spot in the United States this year. More on Maryville University Of Saint Louis
Paris Junior College came in at #40 in this year's ranking. More on Paris Junior College
Azusa Pacific University did well this year, earning the #41 position. Read more about Azusa Pacific University
Chatham University ranked #42 on our 2026 list of the best Criminology schools. More on Chatham University
Meredith College
Meredith College came in at #43 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Meredith College
Regis University
Regis University did well this year, earning the #44 position. Read more about Regis University
The University Of Montana came in at #45 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on The University Of Montana
Northern Illinois University placed #46 among Criminology schools in the United States. Get the full Northern Illinois University report
Union University
Union University landed the #47 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Union University report
Lindenwood University came in at #48 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Lindenwood University
Framingham State University came in at #49 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Framingham State University
North Carolina State University At Raleigh ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best Criminology schools. See the full North Carolina State University At Raleigh profile
Related Criminology Rankings
See rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Criminology Schools (All Levels)
- Best Criminology Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Criminology Associate’s 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
This list is compiled by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider 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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