2026 Best Criminology Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best Criminology graduate certificate degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 249 colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
So you can compare your options, Course Advisor evaluated schools to build this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Criminology Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Leading the list is Saint Josephs University, our #1 Criminology school in the United States. Saint Josephs University is a private not-for-profit school based in Philadelphia, PA. About 79% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $53,260. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete their Criminology program here. Read the full report on Saint Josephs University
The strong Criminology programs at University Of Utah earned it the #3 place in the United States. University Of Utah is a public school based in Salt Lake City, UT. University Of Utah posts a six-year graduation rate of 65%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,620, compared with $30,860 for out-of-state students. Typical Criminology student debt is $20,798. Read more about University Of Utah
You'll be in good company at University Of North Carolina At Charlotte, which ranked #4 this year. Set in Charlotte, NC, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a public institution. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte graduates 69% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,239, while out-of-state students pay about $22,492. Graduates carry a median of $24,673 in student loans. See the full University Of North Carolina At Charlotte profile
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus placed #6 among Criminology schools in the United States. Based in Cincinnati, OH, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a public institution. About 74% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,363, with out-of-state students paying around $28,697. Typical Criminology student debt is $23,530. Get the full University Of Cincinnati Main Campus report
The strong Criminology programs at Saint Josephs College Of Maine earned it the #5 place in the United States. Get the full Saint Josephs College Of Maine report
University Of Missouri St Louis ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best Criminology schools. More on University Of Missouri St Louis
Fresno Pacific University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best Criminology schools. Get the full Fresno Pacific University report
Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Arecibo did well this year, earning the #8 position. Read more about Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Arecibo
Auburn University did well this year, earning the #9 position. Get the full Auburn University report
Briar Cliff University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best Criminology schools. Read the full report on Briar Cliff University
West Liberty University placed #11 among Criminology schools in the United States. Read the full report on West Liberty University
Mercer University placed #12 among Criminology schools in the United States. See the full Mercer University profile
Northern Arizona University did well this year, earning the #13 position. Get the full Northern Arizona University report
University Of Akron Main Campus placed #14 among Criminology schools in the United States. More on University Of Akron Main Campus
Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Ponce did well this year, earning the #15 position. See the full Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Ponce profile
Olivet Nazarene University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best Criminology schools. Read the full report on Olivet Nazarene University
Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice landed the #17 spot in the United States this year. See the full Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice profile
Stonehill College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best Criminology schools. See the full Stonehill College profile
Central Connecticut State University did well this year, earning the #19 position. Read more about Central Connecticut State University
Cleveland State University placed #20 among Criminology schools in the United States. Read more about Cleveland State University
Mississippi State University landed the #21 spot in the United States this year. More on Mississippi State University
Suny College Of Technology At Canton did well this year, earning the #22 position. More on Suny College Of Technology At Canton
The University Of Montana did well this year, earning the #23 position. See the full The University Of Montana profile
Assumption College did well this year, earning the #24 position. More on Assumption College
Old Dominion University did well this year, earning the #25 position. See the full Old Dominion University profile
Rest of the Top 50 Best Criminology Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also made the top of the list:
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus placed #26 among Criminology schools in the United States. Get the full Pennsylvania State University Main Campus report
Purdue University Global ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best Criminology schools. More on Purdue University Global
University Of Delaware ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best Criminology schools. Read more about University Of Delaware
University Of Maryland Eastern Shore landed the #29 spot in the United States this year. See the full University Of Maryland Eastern Shore profile
Dominican University Of California placed #30 among Criminology schools in the United States. See the full Dominican University Of California profile
Missouri State University Springfield ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best Criminology schools. Read more about Missouri State University Springfield
Depaul University ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best Criminology schools. See the full Depaul University profile
Regis University
Regis University came in at #33 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Regis University
University Of Missouri Kansas City came in at #34 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on University Of Missouri Kansas City
Butler University placed #35 among Criminology schools in the United States. Get the full Butler University report
Le Moyne College
Le Moyne College ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best Criminology schools. More on Le Moyne College
University Of Florida landed the #37 spot in the United States this year. Read more about University Of Florida
California State University San Marcos came in at #38 in this year's ranking. Read more about California State University San Marcos
Saint Mary Of The Woods College ranked #39 on our 2026 list of the best Criminology schools. More on Saint Mary Of The Woods College
University Of Mobile came in at #40 in this year's ranking. Read more about University Of Mobile
Arcadia University placed #41 among Criminology schools in the United States. Get the full Arcadia University report
Illinois College
Illinois College came in at #42 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Illinois College
Peace College
Peace College ranked #43 on our 2026 list of the best Criminology schools. Read the full report on Peace College
Lynchburg College ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best Criminology schools. Read more about Lynchburg College
Ohio State University Main Campus placed #45 among Criminology schools in the United States. See the full Ohio State University Main Campus profile
University Of Houston Clear Lake ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best Criminology schools. Get the full University Of Houston Clear Lake report
California Lutheran University came in at #47 in this year's ranking. Read more about California Lutheran University
University Of Central Arkansas came in at #48 in this year's ranking. Get the full University Of Central Arkansas report
Utah State University ranked #49 on our 2026 list of the best Criminology schools. Read more about Utah State University
Suffolk University landed the #50 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Suffolk University report
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 Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Criminology Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced 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).