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.
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2023 Best Value Criminology Schools in the United States
Check out the criminology programs at these schools if you want to get the best value for your educational dollar.
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.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Cabrini University are $33,845 per year. On average, criminology graduates from Cabrini University take out $27,000 in student loans while working on their degree.
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 city of Indianapolis, Purdue University Global is a public school with a very large student population.
Purdue University Global undergraduate students pay an average of $14,436 in tuition and fees each year. While working on their degree, criminology majors at Purdue University Global accumulate an average of around $23,383 in student debt.
The excellent programs at Central New Mexico Community College helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best criminology schools in the United States. Located in the city of Albuquerque, CNM is a public college with a large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at CNM are $7,540 a year. While working on their degree, criminology majors at CNM accumulate an average of around $11,990 in student debt.
Full Criminology at Central New Mexico Community College Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend University of Wisconsin - Stout. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Value Criminology Schools list. Located in the distant town of Menomonie, UW - Stout is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at UW - Stout are $17,820 a 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.
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means University of Wisconsin - River Falls is a great value for criminology students. UW - River Falls is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of River Falls.
UW - River Falls undergraduate students pay an average of $15,661 in tuition and fees each 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.
Full Criminology at University of Wisconsin - River Falls Report
Lasell University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for criminology students. It came in at #6 on the list. Lasell is a small private not-for-profit school located in the small city of Newton.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Lasell are $42,000 a year. Criminology majors at Lasell take out an average of $27,000 in student loans while working on their egree.
University of Wisconsin - Whitewater ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Criminology Schools list. Located in the town of Whitewater, UW - Whitewater is a public college with a large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UW - Whitewater are $16,602 per 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.
Full Criminology at University of Wisconsin - Whitewater Report
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminology Schools ranking. SRU is a medium-sized public school located in the distant 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 excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Criminology Schools list.
National Louis University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminology Schools ranking. Located in the city of Chicago, NLU is a private not-for-profit school with a moderately-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at NLU are $14,169 a year. The average amount in student loans that criminology majors at NLU take out is $28,426.
Read full report on Criminology at National Louis University
With a ranking of #10, Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well on this year’s best value schools for criminology students. Located in the small city of Carbondale, SIUC is a public school with a 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
Northwest Missouri State University landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value criminology programs. Northwest is a medium-sized public school located in the town of Maryville.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Northwest are $14,919 a year.
Full Criminology at Northwest Missouri State University Report
University of Florida-Online did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for criminology students. It came in at #12 on the list. Located in the midsize city of Gainesville, UF Online is a public school with a medium-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.
In addition to its great value ranking, UF Online is in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Criminology Schools list.
Read full report on Criminology at University of Florida-Online
University of Minnesota - Duluth came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminology Schools ranking. UMN Duluth is a moderately-sized public school located in the small city of Duluth.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at UMN Duluth are $19,148 a year. Criminology majors at UMN Duluth take out an average of $23,157 in student loans while working on their egree.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UMN Duluth also is in the top 15% of our Best Criminology Schools ranking.
Read full report on Criminology at University of Minnesota - Duluth
University of South Florida - Main Campus ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Criminology Schools list. USF Tampa is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at USF Tampa are $17,324 per 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.
Read full report on Criminology at University of South Florida - Main Campus
With a ranking of #15, John Jay College of Criminal Justice did quite well on this year’s best value schools for criminology students. Located in the large city of New York, John Jay is a public school with a fairly large student population.
John Jay undergraduate students pay an average of $15,420 in tuition and fees each year. On average, criminology graduates from John Jay take out $12,950 in student loans while working on their degree.
Full Criminology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice Report
Arkansas State University - Main Campus came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminology Schools ranking. Located in the small city of Jonesboro, A-State is a public school with a fairly 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.
Read full report on Criminology at Arkansas State University - Main Campus
University of Northern Iowa landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value criminology programs. Located in the city of Cedar Falls, UNI is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UNI are $19,753 per 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.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UNI also is in the top 10% of our Best Criminology Schools ranking.
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 midsize 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.
Regis University landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value criminology programs. Located in the large city of Denver, Regis U is a private not-for-profit college with a medium-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Regis U are $39,610 per year.
With a ranking of #20, Lindenwood University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for criminology students. Lindenwood University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Charles.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Lindenwood University are $18,640 a year.
Missouri State University - Springfield landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value criminology programs. Missouri State is a very large public school located in the medium-sized 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.
Eastern Michigan University landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value criminology programs. Located in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan is a public college with a fairly large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Eastern Michigan are $15,500 per 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.
Read full report on Criminology at Eastern Michigan University
With a ranking of #23, University of West Georgia did quite well on this year’s best value schools for criminology students. Located in the fringe town of Carrollton, University of West Georgia is a public school with a large student population.
University of West Georgia undergraduate students pay an average of $17,576 in tuition and fees each 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.
Read full report on Criminology at University of West Georgia
Honorable Mentions
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 |
More Criminology Rankings
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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