2026 Most Popular Criminology Schools
There are 249 colleges that offer a degree in Criminology. Learn more about the most popular schools below:
Finding the Best Criminology School for You
Today’s Criminology students have lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. With more and more schools offering online options, you’re no longer limited to schools in your local area.
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 249 schools in the United States offering Criminology programs. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from each school’s program.
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2026 Most Popular Criminology Schools in the United States
Check out the Criminology programs at these schools if you want to attend one of the most popular in the United States.
Top 25 Most Popular Criminology Schools
The most popular school in the United States for Criminology students is University of California-Irvine. Located in Irvine, CA, this is a public institution. This school awarded 496 degrees in Criminology in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $40,474. Read full report on Criminology at University of California-Irvine
University of South Florida comes in at #2 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Criminology majors. Located in Tampa, FL, this is a public institution. During the most recent year for which we have data, 455 people earned their degree in Criminology from this school. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $43,017. Read More…
California State University-Fresno comes in at #3 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Criminology majors. Located in Fresno, CA, this is a public institution. This school awarded 364 degrees in Criminology in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $36,356. Full Criminology at California State University-Fresno Report
University of Maryland-College Park comes in at #4 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Criminology majors. University of Maryland-College Park is a public school located in College Park, MD. This school awarded 362 degrees in Criminology in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $56,509. Read More…
The University of Alabama landed the #5 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Criminology Schools ranking. Located in Tuscaloosa, AL, this is a public institution. During the most recent year for which we have data, 321 people earned their degree in Criminology from this school. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $47,722. Full Criminology at The University of Alabama Report
Northern Arizona University comes in at #6 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Criminology majors. Located in Flagstaff, AZ, this is a public institution. This school awarded 190 degrees in Criminology in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $45,100. Read More…
University of Wisconsin-Madison comes in at #7 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Criminology majors. Located in Madison, WI, this is a public institution. During the most recent year for which we have data, 190 people earned their degree in Criminology from this school. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $53,379. Read More…
California State University-San Marcos landed the #8 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Criminology Schools ranking. California State University-San Marcos is a public school located in San Marcos, CA. This school awarded 188 degrees in Criminology in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $42,878. Full Criminology at California State University-San Marcos Report
University of Florida landed the #9 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Criminology Schools ranking. Located in Gainesville, FL, this is a public institution. During the most recent year for which we have data, 187 people earned their degree in Criminology from this school. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $48,898. Read full report on Criminology at University of Florida
East Carolina University comes in at #10 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Criminology majors. Located in Greenville, NC, this is a public institution. During the most recent year for which we have data, 183 people earned their degree in Criminology from this school. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $44,602. Read More…
Georgia Southern University comes in at #11 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Criminology majors. Located in Statesboro, GA, this is a public institution. This school awarded 176 degrees in Criminology in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $43,987. Read More…
Ohio State University-Main Campus landed the #12 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Criminology Schools ranking. Ohio State University-Main Campus is a public school located in Columbus, OH. During the most recent year for which we have data, 175 people earned their degree in Criminology from this school. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $49,087. Full Criminology at Ohio State University-Main Campus Report
Old Dominion University comes in at #13 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Criminology majors. Old Dominion University is a public school located in Norfolk, VA. This school awarded 175 degrees in Criminology in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $46,400. Read full report on Criminology at Old Dominion University
Washington State University landed the #14 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Criminology Schools ranking. Located in Pullman, WA, this is a public institution. During the most recent year for which we have data, 169 people earned their degree in Criminology from this school. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $49,447. Read full report on Criminology at Washington State University
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice comes in at #15 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Criminology majors. CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice is a public school located in New York, NY. During the most recent year for which we have data, 167 people earned their degree in Criminology from this school. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $38,864. Full Criminology at CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice Report
The University of Tampa comes in at #16 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Criminology majors. The University of Tampa is a private nonprofit school located in Tampa, FL. This school awarded 151 degrees in Criminology in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $39,636. Full Criminology at The University of Tampa Report
West Virginia University comes in at #17 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Criminology majors. West Virginia University is a public school located in Morgantown, WV. This school awarded 147 degrees in Criminology in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $43,805. Read More…
University of Utah comes in at #18 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Criminology majors. Located in Salt Lake City, UT, this is a public institution. During the most recent year for which we have data, 137 people earned their degree in Criminology from this school. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $52,685. Read full report on Criminology at University of Utah
Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus comes in at #19 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Criminology majors. Located in Indiana, PA, this is a public institution. During the most recent year for which we have data, 134 people earned their degree in Criminology from this school. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $40,364. Read full report on Criminology at Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus
Missouri State University-Springfield landed the #20 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Criminology Schools ranking. Missouri State University-Springfield is a public school located in Springfield, MO. This school awarded 129 degrees in Criminology in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $38,092. Full Criminology at Missouri State University-Springfield Report
University of West Georgia comes in at #21 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Criminology majors. Located in Carrollton, GA, this is a public institution. During the most recent year for which we have data, 122 people earned their degree in Criminology from this school. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $39,461. Full Criminology at University of West Georgia Report
Pennsylvania Western University comes in at #22 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Criminology majors. Pennsylvania Western University is a public school located in California, PA. During the most recent year for which we have data, 119 people earned their degree in Criminology from this school. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $45,005. Full Criminology at Pennsylvania Western University Report
Western Kentucky University comes in at #23 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Criminology majors. Western Kentucky University is a public school located in Bowling Green, KY. During the most recent year for which we have data, 118 people earned their degree in Criminology from this school. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $40,545. Read full report on Criminology at Western Kentucky University
Texas A&M University-San Antonio comes in at #24 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Criminology majors. Texas A&M University-San Antonio is a public school located in San Antonio, TX. This school awarded 115 degrees in Criminology in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $44,674. Read full report on Criminology at Texas A&M University-San Antonio
Clemson University landed the #25 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Criminology Schools ranking. Located in Clemson, SC, this is a public institution. This school awarded 106 degrees in Criminology in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $51,401. Read full report on Criminology at Clemson University
Rest of the Top Most Popular Criminology Schools
Additional Noteworthy Schools
These are some additional schools worth mentioning that also graduate students in this major every year.
Criminology by Region
See the most popular Criminology schools in a specific region of the United States.
| Region |
|---|
| New England |
| Middle Atlantic |
| Great Lakes |
| Plains States |
| Southeast |
| Southwest |
| Rocky Mountains |
| Far Western US |
More Criminology Rankings
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this Most Popular Criminology Schools list, to help you choose the best school for you.
Majors Related to Criminology
Criminology Concentrations
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Criminology | 10,365 |
Most Popular Related Majors
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Economics | 45,628 |
| Political Science & Government | 44,942 |
| Sociology | 31,380 |
| General Social Sciences | 17,510 |
| International Relations & Security | 13,035 |
References
*The average salary above is for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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