Criminology: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Criminology is an interdisciplinary field dedicated to understanding the causes, consequences, and societal responses to criminal behavior. It examines crime not just as a legal violation, but as a complex social phenomenon shaped by psychological, cultural, and structural factors. Students explore how societies define crime, enforce laws, and seek justice through evolving institutional frameworks.
- Theory of crime: Investigates foundational models explaining why crime occurs, including classical, positivist, and critical perspectives on criminal conduct.
- Psychological and social bases of criminal behavior: Analyzes individual motivations, mental health influences, and environmental factors that contribute to deviant and criminal actions.
- Social value systems and theory of punishment: Explores how cultural norms and ethical frameworks shape definitions of wrongdoing and justify punitive or rehabilitative responses.
- Criminal law and criminal justice systems: Provides insight into legal structures, procedural safeguards, and the roles of policing, courts, and corrections within the justice process.
- Penology: Focuses on the study and practice of punishment, including incarceration, sentencing policies, and the ethical implications of penal strategies.
- Rehabilitation and recidivism: Examines programs and interventions designed to reintegrate offenders into society, alongside data-driven analysis of reoffending patterns.
- Studies of specific types of crime: Offers in-depth exploration of offenses such as violent crime, white-collar crime, cybercrime, and organized crime, with attention to trends and prevention.
- Social attitudes and policy: Assesses public perceptions of crime and justice, and how these influence legislative decisions and reform initiatives.
- Applications to law enforcement administration and policy: Applies criminological knowledge to real-world challenges in policing, crime prevention, and justice reform.
Criminology Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Criminology Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Criminology degrees, including Managers, All Other, Psychologists, All Other and Sociologists. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 736,680 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Managers, All Other 11-9199 | $136,550 | $68,860 - $227,590 | 630,980 | $65.65 |
| Psychologists, All Other 19-3039 | $117,580 | $51,410 - $163,570 | 17,790 | $56.53 |
| Sociologists 19-3041 | $101,690 | $60,710 - $168,590 | 2,950 | $48.89 |
| Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1111 | $71,470 | $45,640 - $143,130 | 13,560 | N/A |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other 19-4099 | $60,130 | $37,310 - $101,870 | 71,400 | $28.91 |
Criminology Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $73,438 in West Virginia to $130,204 in California—a 77% difference. The highest-paying states include California, Delaware, and Colorado. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 736,680 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Criminology by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Criminology programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Criminology is found at University of California (UCI), Irvine (496 graduates), University of South Florida (USF) (455 graduates), California State University, Fresno (364 graduates), University of Maryland (UMCP), College Park (362 graduates), and The University of Alabama (UA) (321 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 9,016 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of California (UCI) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
496 | Irvine, California | Public | uci.edu |
| University of South Florida (USF) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
455 | Tampa, Florida | Public | usf.edu |
| California State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
364 | Fresno, California | Public | fresnostate.edu |
| University of Maryland (UMCP) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
362 | College Park, Maryland | Public | umd.edu |
| The University of Alabama (UA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
321 | Tuscaloosa, Alabama | Public | ua.edu |
| Northern Arizona University (NAU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
190 | Flagstaff, Arizona | Public | nau.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Other Award
|
190 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
| California State University (CSUSM) |
Bachelor's
|
188 | San Marcos, California | Public | csusm.edu |
| University of Florida (UF) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
187 | Gainesville, Florida | Public | ufl.edu |
| East Carolina University (ECU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
183 | Greenville, North Carolina | Public | ecu.edu |
| Georgia Southern University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
176 | Statesboro, Georgia | Public | georgiasouthern.edu |
| Ohio State University |
Bachelor's
|
175 | Columbus, Ohio | Public | osu.edu |
| Old Dominion University (ODU) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
175 | Norfolk, Virginia | Public | odu.edu |
| Washington State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
169 | Pullman, Washington | Public | wsu.edu |
| CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice |
Bachelor's
|
167 | New York, New York | Public | jjay.cuny.edu |
| The University of Tampa (UTampa) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
151 | Tampa, Florida | Private | ut.edu |
| West Virginia University (WVU) |
Bachelor's
|
147 | Morgantown, West Virginia | Public | wvu.edu |
| University of Utah (U of U) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
137 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Public | utah.edu |
| Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
134 | Indiana, Pennsylvania | Public | iup.edu |
| Missouri State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Other Award
|
129 | Springfield, Missouri | Public | missouristate.edu |
| University of West Georgia (UWG) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
122 | Carrollton, Georgia | Public | westga.edu |
| Pennsylvania Western University (PennWest) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Doctorate (Professional)
|
119 | California, Pennsylvania | Public | pennwest.edu |
| Western Kentucky University (WKU) |
Bachelor's
|
118 | Bowling Green, Kentucky | Public | wku.edu |
| Texas A&M University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
115 | San Antonio, Texas | Public | tamusa.edu |
| Clemson University |
Bachelor's
|
106 | Clemson, South Carolina | Public | clemson.edu |
| California State Polytechnic University (CPP) |
Bachelor's
|
105 | Pomona, California | Public | cpp.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Bachelor's
|
105 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| Indiana State University (ISU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
101 | Terre Haute, Indiana | Public | indstate.edu |
| University of Delaware (UD) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
99 | Newark, Delaware | Public | udel.edu |
| University of Rhode Island (URI) |
Bachelor's
|
97 | Kingston, Rhode Island | Public | web.uri.edu |
| University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) |
Bachelor's
|
96 | Wilmington, North Carolina | Public | uncw.edu |
| University at Buffalo (UB) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
94 | Buffalo, New York | Public | buffalo.edu |
| North Carolina State University (NC State) |
Bachelor's
|
86 | Raleigh, North Carolina | Public | ncsu.edu |
| Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) |
Bachelor's
|
84 | New Britain, Connecticut | Public | ccsu.edu |
| Connecticut State Community College (CT State) |
Associate's
|
83 | Hartford, Connecticut | Public | ctstate.edu |
| University of Iowa |
Bachelor's
|
81 | Iowa City, Iowa | Public | uiowa.edu |
| Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) |
Associate's
|
79 | Albuquerque, New Mexico | Public | cnm.edu |
| University of Missouri-St Louis (UMSL) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
78 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Public | umsl.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
77 | Richardson, Texas | Public | utdallas.edu |
| University of Idaho (U of I) |
Bachelor's
|
72 | Moscow, Idaho | Public | uidaho.edu |
| Southern Illinois University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
68 | Carbondale, Illinois | Public | siu.edu |
| Loyola University New Orleans (LOYNO) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
67 | New Orleans, Louisiana | Private | loyno.edu |
| University of New Hampshire (UNH) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
67 | Durham, New Hampshire | Public | unh.edu |
| Cleveland State University (CSU) |
Bachelor's
|
65 | Cleveland, Ohio | Public | csuohio.edu |
| Marquette University |
Bachelor's
|
65 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Private | marquette.edu |
| Eastern Washington University (EWU) |
Bachelor's
|
64 | Cheney, Washington | Public | ewu.edu |
| Niagara University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
61 | Niagara University, New York | Private | niagara.edu |
| Eastern Michigan University (EMU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
60 | Ypsilanti, Michigan | Public | emich.edu |
| DePaul University |
Bachelor's
|
58 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | depaul.edu |
| University of Michigan |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
57 | Dearborn, Michigan | Public | umdearborn.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMD) |
Bachelor's
|
57 | Duluth, Minnesota | Public | d.umn.edu |
| University of Miami (UM) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
56 | Coral Gables, Florida | Private | miami.edu |
| Lasell University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
55 | Newton, Massachusetts | Private | lasell.edu |
| SUNY Old Westbury |
Bachelor's
|
54 | Old Westbury, New York | Public | oldwestbury.edu |
| University of La Verne |
Bachelor's
|
53 | La Verne, California | Private | laverne.edu |
| Stonehill College |
Bachelor's
|
53 | Easton, Massachusetts | Private | stonehill.edu |
| University of Missouri (UMKC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
53 | Kansas City, Missouri | Public | umkc.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Bachelor's
|
52 | North Dartmouth, Massachusetts | Public | umassd.edu |
| University of Houston (UHCL) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
51 | Houston, Texas | Public | uhcl.edu |
| University of Northern Iowa (UNI) |
Bachelor's
|
50 | Cedar Falls, Iowa | Public | uni.edu |
| National Louis University (NLU) |
Bachelor's
|
49 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | nl.edu |
| Mount St. Mary's University |
Bachelor's
|
49 | Emmitsburg, Maryland | Private | msmary.edu |
| Mississippi State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
|
49 | Mississippi State, Mississippi | Public | msstate.edu |
| State University of New York |
Bachelor's
|
48 | Cortland, New York | Public | www2.cortland.edu |
| University of Wisconsin |
Bachelor's
|
48 | Whitewater, Wisconsin | Public | uww.edu |
| University of Florida (UF Online) |
Bachelor's
|
46 | Gainesville, Florida | Public | ufonline.ufl.edu |
| Arkansas State University (A-State) |
Bachelor's
|
43 | Jonesboro, Arkansas | Public | astate.edu |
| University of Pennsylvania (Penn) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
43 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | upenn.edu |
| California Lutheran University (CLU) |
Bachelor's
|
42 | Thousand Oaks, California | Private | callutheran.edu |
| Flagler College (Flagler) |
Bachelor's
|
42 | Saint Augustine, Florida | Private | flagler.edu |
| Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania (SRU) |
Bachelor's
|
42 | Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania | Public | sru.edu |
| The University of Texas Permian Basin |
Bachelor's
|
40 | Odessa, Texas | Public | utpb.edu |
| Framingham State University (FSU) |
Bachelor's
|
39 | Framingham, Massachusetts | Public | framingham.edu |
| Lycoming College |
Bachelor's
|
38 | Williamsport, Pennsylvania | Private | lycoming.edu |
| Saint Joseph's University (SJU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
38 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | sju.edu |
| Delaware State University (DSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
37 | Dover, Delaware | Public | desu.edu |
| Saint Anselm College |
Bachelor's
|
37 | Manchester, New Hampshire | Private | anselm.edu |
| Bowling Green State University (BGSU) |
Master's
|
37 | Bowling Green, Ohio | Public | bgsu.edu |
| Texas A & M University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
37 | Kingsville, Texas | Public | tamuk.edu |
| University of Lynchburg |
Bachelor's
|
36 | Lynchburg, Virginia | Private | lynchburg.edu |
| Eastern Connecticut State University (ECSU) |
Bachelor's
|
35 | Willimantic, Connecticut | Public | easternct.edu |
| University of Central Arkansas (UCA) |
Bachelor's
|
34 | Conway, Arkansas | Public | uca.edu |
| University of Denver (DU) |
Bachelor's
|
34 | Denver, Colorado | Private | du.edu |
| Utah State University (USU) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
34 | Logan, Utah | Public | usu.edu |
| Upper Iowa University (UIU) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
33 | Fayette, Iowa | Private | uiu.edu |
| Lander University |
Bachelor's
|
33 | Greenwood, South Carolina | Public | lander.edu |
| Gonzaga University |
Bachelor's
|
33 | Spokane, Washington | Private | gonzaga.edu |
| Maryville University of Saint Louis |
Bachelor's
|
32 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | maryville.edu |
| Hamline University |
Bachelor's
|
30 | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Private | hamline.edu |
| Hofstra University |
Bachelor's
|
30 | Hempstead, New York | Private | hofstra.edu |
| Wright State University |
Bachelor's
|
30 | Dayton, Ohio | Public | wright.edu |
| Dominican University |
Bachelor's
|
28 | River Forest, Illinois | Private | dom.edu |
| Virginia Union University (VUU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
28 | Richmond, Virginia | Private | vuu.edu |
| California State Polytechnic University (Cal Poly Humboldt) |
Bachelor's
|
27 | Arcata, California | Public | humboldt.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-River Falls (UWRF) |
Bachelor's
|
27 | River Falls, Wisconsin | Public | uwrf.edu |
| Regis University |
Master's
|
26 | Denver, Colorado | Private | regis.edu |
| Cedar Crest College |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
26 | Allentown, Pennsylvania | Private | cedarcrest.edu |
| Saint Vincent College |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
26 | Latrobe, Pennsylvania | Private | stvincent.edu |
| South Dakota State University (SDSU) |
Bachelor's
|
26 | Brookings, South Dakota | Public | sdstate.edu |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) |
Bachelor's
|
25 | Madison, New Jersey | Private | fdu.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Criminology programs
How much can I earn with a Criminology degree?
Salaries for Criminology graduates vary by role and location. Managers, All Other earn a median of $136,550 annually, while Psychologists, All Other earn around $117,580. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $130,204 compared to $73,438 in West Virginia. Approximately 736,680 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Criminology programs?
Currently 234 accredited institutions offer Criminology degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include University of California (UCI), Irvine (496 graduates), University of South Florida (USF) (455 graduates), and California State University, Fresno (364 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Criminology growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 6,908 in 2010 to 10,365 in 2023-24. This represents a 50% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Criminology degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Managers, All Other, Psychologists, All Other, and Sociologists. Related occupations employ approximately 736,680 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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