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Most Popular Criminology Schools

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2023 Most Popular Criminology Schools

232 Colleges
$33,568 Avg Salary
$24,453 Avg Student Debt

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 help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Most Popular Criminology Schools ranking. Our analysis looked at 232 schools in the United States to see which programs were the most popular for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Criminology program at each school on the list.

The colleges and universities below are the most popular for criminology majors pursuing a .

Our analysis found University of California - Irvine to be the most popular school for criminology students who want to pursue a degree in the United States. UC Irvine is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Irvine.

On average, criminology graduates from UC Irvine take out $15,995 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 $188.

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The excellent programs at University of South Florida - Main Campus helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best criminology schools in the United States. USF Tampa is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa.

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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The excellent programs at California State University - Fresno 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 Fresno, Fresno State is a public school with a very large student population.

On average, criminology graduates from Fresno State take out $10,017 in student loans while working on their degree.

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The excellent programs at University of Maryland - College Park helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best criminology schools in the United States. Located in the large suburb of College Park, UMCP is a public college with a very large student population.

While working on their degree, criminology majors at UMCP accumulate an average of around $18,750 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $416.

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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Northern Arizona University. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Most Popular Criminology Schools list. Located in the city of Flagstaff, NAU is a public college with a fairly large student population.

While working on their degree, criminology majors at NAU accumulate an average of around $20,500 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $340.

Full Criminology at Northern Arizona University Report

#6

The University of Alabama

Tuscaloosa, AL

The University of Alabama landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular criminology programs. UA is a fairly large public school located in the small city of Tuscaloosa.

Read full report on Criminology at The University of Alabama

California State University - San Marcos came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Criminology Schools ranking. Located in the suburb of San Marcos, CSUSM is a public college with a large student population.

While working on their degree, criminology majors at CSUSM accumulate an average of around $15,000 in student debt.

Full Criminology at California State University - San Marcos Report

John Jay College of Criminal Justice came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Criminology Schools ranking. Located in the city of New York, John Jay is a public school with a fairly large student population.

While working on their degree, criminology majors at John Jay accumulate an average of around $12,950 in student debt.

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#9

Old Dominion University

Norfolk, VA

Old Dominion University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for criminology students. It came in at #9 on the list. Located in the midsize city of Norfolk, Old Dominion is a public school with a very large student population.

After completing their degree, criminology graduates from Old Dominion carry an average student debt load of $25,000. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $197.

Read full report on Criminology at Old Dominion University

#10

Stockton University

Galloway, NJ

Stockton University ranked #10 on this year’s Most Popular Criminology Schools list. Located in the suburb of Galloway, Stockton State is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

After completing their degree, criminology graduates from Stockton State carry an average student debt load of $25,000. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $258.

Read full report on Criminology at Stockton University

With a ranking of #11, Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for criminology students. IUP is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Indiana.

While working on their degree, criminology majors at IUP accumulate an average of around $27,000 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $305.

Read full report on Criminology at Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus

With a ranking of #12, Washington State University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for criminology students. Wazzu is a fairly large public school located in the distant town of Pullman.

Read full report on Criminology at Washington State University

#13

University of Florida

Gainesville, FL

University of Florida came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Criminology Schools ranking. UF is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville.

While working on their degree, criminology majors at UF accumulate an average of around $18,939 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $256.

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University of Nevada - Reno ranked #14 on this year’s Most Popular Criminology Schools list. Located in the large city of Reno, UNR is a public school with a very large student population.

The average amount in student loans that criminology majors at UNR take out is $18,204. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $427, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Criminology at University of Nevada - Reno

University of Wisconsin - Madison ranked #15 on this year’s Most Popular Criminology Schools list. UW - Madison is a very large public school located in the large city of Madison.

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#16

Georgia Southern University

Statesboro, GA

Georgia Southern University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Criminology Schools ranking. Located in the town of Statesboro, GaSou is a public college with a fairly large student population.

After completing their degree, criminology graduates from GaSou carry an average student debt load of $26,100. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $107.

Read full report on Criminology at Georgia Southern University

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Criminology Schools ranking. Located in the large city of Minneapolis, UMN Twin Cities is a public college with a fairly large student population.

While working on their degree, criminology majors at UMN Twin Cities accumulate an average of around $19,500 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $213.

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Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular criminology programs. Ohio State is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Columbus.

The average amount in student loans that criminology majors at Ohio State take out is $21,688. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $245, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

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The University of Tampa ranked #19 on this year’s Most Popular Criminology Schools list. UT is a large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Tampa.

After completing their degree, criminology graduates from UT carry an average student debt load of $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 $661.

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#20

Saint Joseph's University

Philadelphia, PA

Saint Joseph’s University ranked #20 on this year’s Most Popular Criminology Schools list. St. Joe's is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia.

While working on their degree, criminology majors at St. Joe's accumulate an average of around $25,688 in student debt.

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Missouri State University - Springfield ranked #21 on this year’s Most Popular Criminology Schools list. Missouri State is a very large public school located in the midsize city of Springfield.

On average, criminology graduates from Missouri State take out $24,332 in student loans while working on their degree. 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

#22

University of Delaware

Newark, DE

With a ranking of #22, University of Delaware did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for criminology students. UD is a very large public school located in the large suburb of Newark.

The average amount in student loans that criminology majors at UD take out is $23,375. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $421.

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#23

University of West Georgia

Carrollton, GA

University of West Georgia landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular criminology programs. Located in the town of Carrollton, University of West Georgia is a public school with a fairly large student population.

While working on their degree, criminology majors at University of West Georgia accumulate an average of around $28,630 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 $181.

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#24

Indiana State University

Terre Haute, IN

With a ranking of #24, Indiana State University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for criminology students. Located in the city of Terre Haute, Indiana State is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

Criminology majors at Indiana State take out an average of $24,804 in student loans while working on their egree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $148, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

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#25

West Virginia University

Morgantown, WV

With a ranking of #25, West Virginia University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for criminology students. Located in the city of Morgantown, WVU is a public school with a very large student population.

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#26

University of Utah

Salt Lake City, UT
#29

University of Rhode Island

Kingston, RI
#32

Purdue University Global

Indianapolis, IN
#33

University of Iowa

Iowa City, IA
#33

Eastern Michigan University

Ypsilanti, MI
#33

Cleveland State University

Cleveland, OH

Honorable Mentions

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also popular but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Most Popular Criminology Schools award.

Rank College Location
36 Lasell University Newton, MA
37 Southern Illinois University Carbondale Carbondale, IL
38 Central New Mexico Community College Albuquerque, NM
38 SUNY Cortland Cortland, NY
38 Western Kentucky University Bowling Green, KY
41 University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth North Dartmouth, MA
42 Marquette University Milwaukee, WI
43 University of Wisconsin - Whitewater Whitewater, WI
43 The University of Texas at Dallas Richardson, TX
45 Eastern Washington University Cheney, WA
46 Mississippi State University Mississippi State, MS

Criminology by Region

View the Most Popular Criminology Schools for a specific region near you.

Region
Southeast
New England
Rocky Mountains
Plains States
Middle Atlantic
Far Western US
Southwest
Great Lakes

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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