2023 Best Criminology Schools in California
Finding the Best Criminology School for You
In 2020-2021, 1,459 degrees and certificates were awarded to criminology students who went to a California college or university. This makes it the #73 most popular major in the state.
There are so many programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Or you may find the programs at a trade school to be a better alternative for you.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Best Criminology Schools in California ranking. Our analysis looked at 11 schools in California to see which programs offered the best educational experiences for students.
View our full ranking methodology.
2023 Best Criminology Schools in California
The following schools top our list of the Best Criminology Colleges.
Top 10 Best Criminology Schools
Our analysis found University of California - Irvine to be the best school for criminology students who want to pursue a degree in California. UC Irvine is a fairly large public school located in the city of Irvine.
On average, criminology graduates from UC Irvine take out $15,995 in student loans while working on their degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $188.
Full Criminology at University of California - Irvine Report
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A rank of #2 on this year’s list means California State University - San Marcos is a great place for criminology students. Located in the large suburb of San Marcos, CSUSM is a public school with a large student population.
On average, criminology graduates from CSUSM take out $15,000 in student loans while working on their degree.
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Out of the 11 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Fresno landed the # 3 spot on the list. Located in the large city of Fresno, Fresno State is a public school with a very large student population.
Criminology majors at Fresno State take out an average of $10,017 in student loans while working on their egree.
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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend San Jose State University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Criminology Schools in California list. San Jose State is a fairly large public school located in the large city of San Jose.
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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Mount Saint Mary’s University. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Criminology Schools in California list. Located in the large city of Los Angeles, MSMU is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
Criminology majors at MSMU take out an average of $31,166 in student loans while working on their egree.
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University of La Verne landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best criminology programs. ULV is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of La Verne.
On average, criminology graduates from ULV take out $26,493 in student loans while working on their degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $453, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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California State Polytechnic University - Pomona landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best criminology programs. Located in the suburb of Pomona, Cal Poly Pomona is a public school with a very large student population.
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With a ranking of #8, Azusa Pacific University did quite well on this year’s best schools for criminology students. Azusa Pacific is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Azusa.
Full Criminology at Azusa Pacific University Report
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With a ranking of #9, San Diego State University did quite well on this year’s best schools for criminology students. Located in the large city of San Diego, SDSU is a public school with a fairly large student population.
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With a ranking of #10, Humboldt State University did quite well on this year’s best schools for criminology students. Located in the remote town of Arcata, Humboldt State University is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.
While working on their degree, criminology majors at Humboldt State University accumulate an average of around $18,436 in student debt.
Full Criminology at Humboldt State University Report
Request InformationBest Criminology Colleges in the Far Western US Region
Explore all the Best Criminology Schools in the Far Western US Area or other specific states within that region.
| State | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Washington | 289 |
| Oregon | 12 |
| Nevada | 177 |
More Criminology Rankings in California
Criminology Related Rankings by Major
Criminology is one of 12 different types of programs to choose from.
Most Popular Related Majors
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Political Science & Government | 49,282 |
| Economics | 49,055 |
| Sociology | 38,475 |
| General Social Sciences | 18,997 |
| International Relations & National Security | 14,306 |
Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 11 schools only.
- Read more about our ranking methodology.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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