2026 Best Criminology Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best Criminology doctoral degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 249 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To help you make your decision, Course Advisor analyzed schools to compile this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Criminology Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools:
No school ranked higher than University Of Maryland College Park this year in the United States. University Of Maryland College Park is a public school based in College Park, MD. University Of Maryland College Park graduates 89% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,809, while out-of-state students pay about $41,186. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete their Criminology program here. See the full University Of Maryland College Park profile
University Of Delaware came in at #2 on this year's Criminology ranking in the United States. Located in Newark, DE, University Of Delaware is a public institution. University Of Delaware posts a six-year graduation rate of 82%. Students from in state pay about $16,810 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $41,400. The median Criminology program debt is $23,685. Read more about University Of Delaware
University Of California Irvine came in at #3 on this year's Criminology ranking in the United States. This public school is set in Irvine, CA. About 87% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,752, with out-of-state students paying around $46,640. University Of California Irvine Criminology students take on a median of $15,865 in debt. See the full University Of California Irvine profile
You'll be in good company at The University Of Texas At Dallas, which ranked #4 this year. This public school is set in Richardson, TX. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $14,644, compared with $40,144 for out-of-state students. The University Of Texas At Dallas Criminology students take on a median of $20,500 in debt. Get the full The University Of Texas At Dallas report
The strong Criminology programs at University Of Missouri St Louis earned it the #5 place in the United States. Based in Saint Louis, MO, University Of Missouri St Louis is a public institution. University Of Missouri St Louis graduates 57% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $15,120 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $37,620. Students borrow a median of $22,801 to complete their Criminology program here. Get the full University Of Missouri St Louis report
Washington State University came in at #6 in this year's ranking. Based in Pullman, WA, Washington State University is a public institution. Washington State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 60%. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,391, with out-of-state students paying around $29,950. Graduates carry a median of $21,903 in student loans. Read more about Washington State University
Old Dominion University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best Criminology schools. Based in Norfolk, VA, Old Dominion University is a public institution. Old Dominion University posts a six-year graduation rate of 46%. Students from in state pay about $12,750 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $33,780. The median Criminology program debt is $25,000. More on Old Dominion University
Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best Criminology schools. Located in Carbondale, IL, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public institution. About 60% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,334. Southern Illinois University Carbondale Criminology students take on a median of $24,000 in debt. Read more about Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus placed #9 among Criminology schools in the United States. Located in Indiana, PA, Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus is a public institution. Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus posts a six-year graduation rate of 54%. In-state tuition and fees average $11,380, with out-of-state students paying around $16,297. Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus Criminology students take on a median of $27,000 in debt. Read more about Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus
University Of South Florida Main Campus placed #10 among Criminology schools in the United States. Based in Tampa, FL, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a public institution. About 77% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $6,410, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Typical Criminology student debt is $20,302. See the full University Of South Florida Main Campus profile
Arizona State University landed the #11 spot in the United States this year. Set in Tempe, AZ, Arizona State University is a public institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $12,223, with out-of-state students paying around $33,139. The median Criminology program debt is $21,842. Read more about Arizona State University
University Of Florida landed the #12 spot in the United States this year. Set in Gainesville, FL, University Of Florida is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. Students from in state pay about $6,381 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. Graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Read the full report on University Of Florida
University Of South Carolina Columbia ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best Criminology schools. University Of South Carolina Columbia is a public school based in Columbia, SC. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,688, compared with $36,298 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,472 to complete their Criminology program here. Read more about University Of South Carolina Columbia
San Diego State University came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on San Diego State University
Saint Michaels College came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Read more about Saint Michaels College
University Of The Pacific did well this year, earning the #16 position. Read the full report on University Of The Pacific
Lebanon Valley College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best Criminology schools. Get the full Lebanon Valley College report
Thomas College
Thomas College landed the #18 spot in the United States this year. More on Thomas College
Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Mayaguez came in at #19 in this year's ranking. See the full Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Mayaguez profile
North Central College placed #20 among Criminology schools in the United States. Read the full report on North Central College
Benedictine University landed the #21 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Benedictine University report
Upper Iowa University landed the #22 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Upper Iowa University
Millikin University did well this year, earning the #23 position. See the full Millikin University profile
Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Arecibo ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best Criminology schools. Read more about Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Arecibo
Nebraska Wesleyan University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best Criminology schools. More on Nebraska Wesleyan University
Rest of the Top 50 Best Criminology Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also made the top of the list:
Saint Josephs University landed the #26 spot in the United States this year. See the full Saint Josephs University profile
West Liberty University placed #27 among Criminology schools in the United States. Read the full report on West Liberty University
Fort Lewis College placed #28 among Criminology schools in the United States. More on Fort Lewis College
Baker University
Baker University placed #29 among Criminology schools in the United States. More on Baker University
Lynchburg College did well this year, earning the #30 position. Get the full Lynchburg College report
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte placed #31 among Criminology schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of North Carolina At Charlotte
Avila University
Avila University landed the #32 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Avila University
Suffolk University placed #33 among Criminology schools in the United States. Read the full report on Suffolk University
Northern Illinois University ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best Criminology schools. Get the full Northern Illinois University report
Cedar Crest College did well this year, earning the #35 position. See the full Cedar Crest College profile
Crown College
Crown College came in at #36 in this year's ranking. Get the full Crown College report
Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus came in at #37 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus
Randolph Macon College did well this year, earning the #38 position. Read more about Randolph Macon College
National Louis University placed #39 among Criminology schools in the United States. Read the full report on National Louis University
Wright State University Lake Campus landed the #40 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Wright State University Lake Campus report
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus did well this year, earning the #41 position. Read more about Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
George Washington University came in at #42 in this year's ranking. Read more about George Washington University
Maryville University Of Saint Louis landed the #43 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Maryville University Of Saint Louis report
Niagara University did well this year, earning the #44 position. Read the full report on Niagara University
Olivet Nazarene University ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best Criminology schools. Get the full Olivet Nazarene University report
The University Of Alabama placed #46 among Criminology schools in the United States. More on The University Of Alabama
Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham did well this year, earning the #47 position. Read the full report on Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham
Ohio State University Mansfield Campus did well this year, earning the #48 position. More on Ohio State University Mansfield Campus
Union University
Union University ranked #49 on our 2026 list of the best Criminology schools. Get the full Union University report
Concordia University Texas ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best Criminology schools. See the full Concordia University Texas profile
Related Criminology Rankings
Explore other degree levels:
- Best Criminology Schools (All Levels)
- Best Criminology Certificate Degree Schools
- 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
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled 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).