2023 Best Value Criminology Schools
Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing
Finding the Best Criminology School for You
Criminology is the #81 most popular major in the country with 11,039 degrees and certificates awarded in 2020-2021.
It's not easy to decide which program to enroll in when you have so many options available. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.
To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Course Advisor has created its Best Value Criminology Schools ranking. This report analyzed 156 schools in the United States to see which ones offered the best value programs for criminology students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.
Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. Specifically, our score for quality is discounted by the published tuition and fees charged by the given college. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The more quality your dollar buys, the better the value.
In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.
Top 15% Best Criminology Schools
Our analysis found Cabrini University to be the best value school for criminology students who want to pursue a degree in the United States. Cabrini University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Radnor.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Cabrini University are $33,845 a year. On average, criminology graduates from Cabrini University take out $27,000 in student loans while working on their degree.
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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Purdue University Global. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Value Criminology Schools list. Located in the small city of Indianapolis, Purdue University Global is a public college with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Purdue University Global are $14,436 a year. While working on their degree, criminology majors at Purdue University Global accumulate an average of around $23,383 in student debt.
Full Criminology at Purdue University Global Report
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A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Central New Mexico Community College is a great value for criminology students. Located in the city of Albuquerque, CNM is a public college with a large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at CNM are $7,540 per year. While working on their degree, criminology majors at CNM accumulate an average of around $11,990 in student debt.
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The excellent programs at University of Wisconsin - Stout helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best criminology schools in the United States. Located in the town of Menomonie, UW - Stout is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UW - Stout are $17,820 per year. While working on their degree, criminology majors at UW - Stout accumulate an average of around $27,000 in student debt.
In addition to its great value ranking, UW - Stout is in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Criminology Schools list.
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The excellent programs at University of Wisconsin - River Falls helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best criminology schools in the United States. UW - River Falls is a moderately-sized public school located in the distant town of River Falls.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at UW - River Falls are $15,661 a year. Criminology majors at UW - River Falls take out an average of $24,875 in student loans while working on their egree.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UW - River Falls also is in the top 10% of our Best Criminology Schools ranking.
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With a ranking of #6, Lasell University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for criminology students. Lasell is a small private not-for-profit school located in the small city of Newton.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Lasell are $42,000 per year. Criminology majors at Lasell take out an average of $27,000 in student loans while working on their egree.
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University of Wisconsin - Whitewater came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminology Schools ranking. Located in the distant town of Whitewater, UW - Whitewater is a public school with a large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at UW - Whitewater are $16,602 a year. While working on their degree, criminology majors at UW - Whitewater accumulate an average of around $25,033 in student debt.
UW - Whitewater also claimed a spot on our Best Criminology Schools list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category.
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Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value criminology programs. SRU is a medium-sized public school located in the town of Slippery Rock.
SRU undergraduate students pay an average of $14,615 in tuition and fees each year. Criminology majors at SRU take out an average of $25,442 in student loans while working on their egree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $177, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
SRU also claimed a spot on our Best Criminology Schools list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category.
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National Louis University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for criminology students. It came in at #9 on the list. Located in the large city of Chicago, NLU is a private not-for-profit college with a moderately-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at NLU are $14,169 per year. The average amount in student loans that criminology majors at NLU take out is $28,426.
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Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Criminology Schools list. Located in the small city of Carbondale, SIUC is a public school with a fairly large student population.
SIUC undergraduate students pay an average of $15,240 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that criminology majors at SIUC take out is $25,000. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $161.
Full Criminology at Southern Illinois University Carbondale Report
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Northwest Missouri State University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminology Schools ranking. Northwest is a medium-sized public school located in the remote town of Maryville.
Northwest undergraduate students pay an average of $14,919 in tuition and fees each year.
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University of Florida-Online came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminology Schools ranking. Located in the midsize city of Gainesville, UF Online is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UF Online are $16,579 per year. On average, criminology graduates from UF Online take out $18,939 in student loans while working on their degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $256.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, UF Online also did well on our Best Criminology Schools list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
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University of Minnesota - Duluth came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminology Schools ranking. UMN Duluth is a medium-sized public school located in the small city of Duluth.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UMN Duluth are $19,148 per year. Criminology majors at UMN Duluth take out an average of $23,157 in student loans while working on their egree.
UMN Duluth also claimed a spot on our Best Criminology Schools list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category.
Full Criminology at University of Minnesota - Duluth Report
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University of South Florida - Main Campus ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Criminology Schools list. USF Tampa is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Tampa.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at USF Tampa are $17,324 a year. The average amount in student loans that criminology majors at USF Tampa take out is $22,424. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $227.
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John Jay College of Criminal Justice ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Criminology Schools list. Located in the city of New York, John Jay is a public school with a large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at John Jay are $15,420 per year. On average, criminology graduates from John Jay take out $12,950 in student loans while working on their degree.
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Arkansas State University - Main Campus came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminology Schools ranking. Located in the city of Jonesboro, A-State is a public school with a large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at A-State are $12,698 per year. On average, criminology graduates from A-State take out $28,145 in student loans while working on their degree.
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University of Northern Iowa ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Criminology Schools list. Located in the city of Cedar Falls, UNI is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
UNI undergraduate students pay an average of $19,753 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, criminology graduates from UNI carry an average student debtload of $23,250. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $147.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, UNI also did well on our Best Criminology Schools list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
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University of Akron Main Campus landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value criminology programs. University of Akron Main Campus is a large public school located in the city of Akron.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at University of Akron Main Campus are $11,880 a year. While working on their degree, criminology majors at University of Akron Main Campus accumulate an average of around $26,800 in student debt.
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Regis University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Criminology Schools list. Located in the large city of Denver, Regis U is a private not-for-profit school with a medium-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Regis U are $39,610 a year.
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With a ranking of #20, Lindenwood University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for criminology students. Lindenwood University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in the small city of Saint Charles.
Lindenwood University undergraduate students pay an average of $18,640 in tuition and fees each year.
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Missouri State University - Springfield ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Criminology Schools list. Missouri State is a very large public school located in the midsize city of Springfield.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Missouri State are $16,498 a year. The average amount in student loans that criminology majors at Missouri State take out is $24,332. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $130, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
Full Criminology at Missouri State University - Springfield Report
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With a ranking of #22, Eastern Michigan University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for criminology students. Located in the large suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan is a public school with a large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Eastern Michigan are $15,500 a year. While working on their degree, criminology majors at Eastern Michigan accumulate an average of around $29,143 in student debt. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $153.
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University of West Georgia landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value criminology programs. Located in the town of Carrollton, University of West Georgia is a public college with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at University of West Georgia are $17,576 a year. On average, criminology graduates from University of West Georgia take out $28,630 in student loans while working on their degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $181.
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These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Value Criminology Schools award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 24 | Universidad del Turabo | Gurabo, PR |
| 25 | Wright State University - Lake Campus | Celina, OH |
| 26 | Oklahoma City University | Oklahoma City, OK |
| 27 | Saint Joseph’s University | Philadelphia, PA |
| 28 | Cleveland State University | Cleveland, OH |
| 29 | California State University - Fresno | Fresno, CA |
| 30 | Northern Arizona University | Flagstaff, AZ |
| 31 | SUNY Old Westbury | Old Westbury, NY |
Criminology by Region
View the Best Value Criminology Schools for a specific region near you.
| Region |
|---|
| Southeast |
| New England |
| Rocky Mountains |
| Plains States |
| Middle Atlantic |
| Far Western US |
| Southwest |
| Great Lakes |
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Majors Related to Criminology
Criminology is one of 12 different types of programs to choose from.
Majors Similar to Criminology
| 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 25 schools only.
- 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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