2026 Best Criminology Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best Criminology undergraduate certificate degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 249 colleges 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 arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor evaluated 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 Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found University Of Missouri St Louis to be the best Criminology school in the United States. Based in Saint Louis, MO, University Of Missouri St Louis is a public institution. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,120, while out-of-state students pay about $37,620. Typical Criminology student debt is $22,801. Read the full report on University Of Missouri St Louis
A rank of #2 makes Colorado State University Pueblo one of the top choices in the United States. More on Colorado State University Pueblo
Catholic University Of America came in at #3 on this year's Criminology ranking in the United States. See the full Catholic University Of America profile
The strong Criminology programs at Texas A And M University San Antonio earned it the #4 place in the United States. Read the full report on Texas A And M University San Antonio
California Lutheran University came in at #5 on this year's Criminology ranking in the United States. More on California Lutheran University
Eastern Washington University came in at #6 in this year's ranking. Get the full Eastern Washington University report
Swarthmore College came in at #7 in this year's ranking. More on Swarthmore College
Wright State University Lake Campus did well this year, earning the #8 position. Read more about Wright State University Lake Campus
Bowling Green State University Main Campus came in at #9 in this year's ranking. See the full Bowling Green State University Main Campus profile
Hamline University came in at #10 in this year's ranking. See the full Hamline University profile
Illinois College
Illinois College came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Illinois College
Universidad Ana G Mendez landed the #12 spot in the United States this year. More on Universidad Ana G Mendez
Central Connecticut State University placed #13 among Criminology schools in the United States. Read the full report on Central Connecticut State University
Concordia University Chicago placed #14 among Criminology schools in the United States. Get the full Concordia University Chicago report
California State University San Marcos placed #15 among Criminology schools in the United States. Get the full California State University San Marcos report
University Of Saint Mary came in at #16 in this year's ranking. See the full University Of Saint Mary profile
Washington State University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best Criminology schools. Get the full Washington State University report
Albright College
Albright College placed #18 among Criminology schools in the United States. Read the full report on Albright College
Randolph Macon College came in at #19 in this year's ranking. More on Randolph Macon College
Johnson C Smith University landed the #20 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Johnson C Smith University
The Chicago School Of Professional Psychology At Los Angeles placed #21 among Criminology schools in the United States. Read the full report on The Chicago School Of Professional Psychology At Los Angeles
Arizona State University landed the #22 spot in the United States this year. See the full Arizona State University profile
East Carolina University landed the #23 spot in the United States this year. More on East Carolina University
Crown College
Crown College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best Criminology schools. See the full Crown College profile
Marquette University came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Read more about Marquette University
Rest of the Top 50 Best Criminology Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also placed among the very best this year:
Meredith College
Meredith College did well this year, earning the #26 position. More on Meredith College
University Of La Verne landed the #27 spot in the United States this year. See the full University Of La Verne profile
Davis And Elkins College ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best Criminology schools. Get the full Davis And Elkins College report
Paris Junior College ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best Criminology schools. Read the full report on Paris Junior College
University Of The Pacific did well this year, earning the #30 position. Read more about University Of The Pacific
Westmoreland County Community College came in at #31 in this year's ranking. More on Westmoreland County Community College
Wright State University Main Campus did well this year, earning the #32 position. Read the full report on Wright State University Main Campus
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus placed #33 among Criminology schools in the United States. See the full University Of Cincinnati Main Campus profile
University Of Rhode Island came in at #34 in this year's ranking. Read more about University Of Rhode Island
Framingham State University placed #35 among Criminology schools in the United States. More on Framingham State University
Indiana State University did well this year, earning the #36 position. See the full Indiana State University profile
Mcpherson College came in at #37 in this year's ranking. Get the full Mcpherson College report
Fresno Pacific University placed #38 among Criminology schools in the United States. Read the full report on Fresno Pacific University
Delaware State University ranked #39 on our 2026 list of the best Criminology schools. Read the full report on Delaware State University
Missouri State University Springfield landed the #40 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Missouri State University Springfield
University Of New Hampshire Main Campus landed the #41 spot in the United States this year. More on University Of New Hampshire Main Campus
Utah State University landed the #42 spot in the United States this year. More on Utah State University
Cleveland State University came in at #43 in this year's ranking. See the full Cleveland State University profile
Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #44 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice landed the #45 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice report
Benedictine University came in at #46 in this year's ranking. Get the full Benedictine University report
Mount St Marys University came in at #47 in this year's ranking. See the full Mount St Marys University profile
Saint Anselm College did well this year, earning the #48 position. Read more about Saint Anselm College
University Of Maryland Eastern Shore landed the #49 spot in the United States this year. More on University Of Maryland Eastern Shore
Buena Vista University ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best Criminology schools. See the full Buena Vista University profile
Related Criminology Rankings
Compare rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Criminology Schools (All Levels)
- Best Criminology 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
The ranking above is published 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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