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 2023 rankings named Cabrini University the best value school in the United States for criminology students. Cabrini University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Radnor.
Cabrini University undergraduate students pay an average of $33,845 in tuition and fees each 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 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.
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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 fairly large student population.
CNM undergraduate students pay an average of $7,540 in tuition and fees each 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 distant town of Menomonie, UW - Stout is a public college with a medium-sized student population.
UW - Stout undergraduate students pay an average of $17,820 in tuition and fees each year. While working on their degree, criminology majors at UW - Stout accumulate an average of around $27,000 in student debt.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UW - Stout also is in the top 10% of our Best Criminology Schools ranking.
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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 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.
UW - River Falls excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Criminology Schools list.
Full Criminology at University of Wisconsin - River Falls Report
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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.
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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 school with a fairly 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 ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Criminology Schools list. 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.
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With a ranking of #9, National Louis University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for criminology students. Located in the city of Chicago, NLU is a private not-for-profit college 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.
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Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value criminology programs. 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.
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Northwest Missouri State University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Criminology Schools list. 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.
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University of Florida-Online landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value criminology programs. Located in the city of Gainesville, UF Online is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
UF Online undergraduate students pay an average of $16,579 in tuition and fees each 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.
UF Online also claimed a spot on our Best Criminology Schools list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category.
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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 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.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UMN Duluth also is in the top 15% of our Best Criminology Schools ranking.
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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 very large public school located in the large 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.
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John Jay College of Criminal Justice landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value criminology programs. Located in the large city of New York, John Jay is a public college 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 did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for criminology students. It came in at #16 on the list. Located in the small city of Jonesboro, A-State is a public college with a large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at A-State are $12,698 a 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 came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminology Schools ranking. Located in the small city of Cedar Falls, UNI is a public college 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.
UNI also claimed a spot on our Best Criminology Schools list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category.
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With a ranking of #18, University of Akron Main Campus did quite well on this year’s best value schools for criminology students. University of Akron Main Campus is a fairly large public school located in the medium-sized 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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With a ranking of #19, Regis University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for criminology students. Located in the city of Denver, Regis U is a private not-for-profit college with a moderately-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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Lindenwood University landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value criminology programs. Lindenwood University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the 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 landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value criminology programs. Missouri State is a fairly large public school located in the city of Springfield.
Missouri State undergraduate students pay an average of $16,498 in tuition and fees each 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.
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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 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 came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminology Schools ranking. Located in the fringe town of Carrollton, University of West Georgia is a public school 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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