Your years at college are the stepping stone into the real world. The people you meet, connections you make, and the degree you get will shape your life significantly. Hundreds of colleges across the US offer criminology courses, each with its own merits. Which makes picking the best college an overwhelming decision.
Criteria
That’s why we have compiled this comprehensive list of the best colleges for criminology in 2021. Each of these colleges is located in the US and was judged on several key factors.
In order to determine the best colleges for criminology, we looked at the factors that will most contribute to your learning and growth as a student, as well as eventually serve you in the field.
1. Quality of Education
College rankings don’t always ensure quality education. While some schools might be among the top criminology PHD programs or have decent criminal justice masters programs, it’s essential to keep in mind the overall quality of education at that institution.
We made sure that the colleges that make our list were among the best overall taking into account such data points as graduation rate, student-to-faculty ratio, research quality, and more.
2. Graduate salaries
Going to college means you’re spending time and money on your degree. And while quality education is a priority, you also want to see a return on your investment. Post graduation, criminology majors start earning an average salary of 31,000 dollars.
The colleges on our list ensure job placement for their students. Alumni success is an important metric for gauging a college’s value.
3. Focus on Criminology
Some of the best schools, in general, might not be the best schools for you. The institutions on this list offer a wider variety of criminology-related programs that might interest you, including college that offer criminal justice, colleges for criminal psychology and colleges for criminal profiling.
We’ve chosen schools that show a particular focus on and consideration for the needs of criminology as an evolving field.
Top schools for criminology
1. University of Maryland
University of Maryland- Central Park (UMCP for short) is a must-consider for anyone looking into criminology. It’s a large public school in a suburban setting that stands out because of the higher level criminology programs it offers- the master’s and doctor’s level degrees.
UMCP is also generally ranked highly at 117 out of 1,715 schools. It is a well-reputed institution, and you won’t have much trouble finding a decent job afterward. Most UMCP graduates earn at least $5,000 more than the national average.
2. Saint Anselm College
Tucked away in Manchester, New Hampshire, this suburban college is much more than just a beautiful campus. It is among the top 5% in criminology major rankings. It handed out 41 bachelor’s degrees in the 2018-19 academic year, the highest degree offered at Saint Anselm.
The college is known to produce some of the top-earning graduates in the field of criminology as the yearly median income is a hefty 39,000 dollars.
3. Saint Joseph’s University
Saint Joseph’s University is a great and popular choice for applicants wanting to pursue criminology. This is mainly owing to the fact that fresh graduates earn 10,000 dollars more than the national median income for criminology majors.
The school also offers a master’s program if you intend on applying for a higher degree in criminology.
4. University of Delaware
The University of Delaware is one of the best ones overall on this list, ranking 87th out of 1,715 institutions. This means that it is among the best in terms of competitiveness, facilities, and graduation rates.
Students finishing their criminology bachelor’s degree can pursue one of the two higher-level programs -masters and doctor’s degrees. Fresh graduates earn about 2000 dollars more than the national average, making the University of Delaware a well-rounded option.
5. University of California-Irvine
Moving to the West Coast, we have the University of California -Irvine (UC-Irvine). UC-Irvine is a well-known and highly competitive institution. While, like the University of Delaware, the school is one of the best ones overall on this list, criminology isn’t its flagship program.
Criminology graduates say that the average annual income for fresh graduates is 29,700 dollars.
6. University of Florida
The University of Florida has a similar profile to the University of Maryland- Central Park. It’s a large public university with a high overall ranking. Graduates also earn about 3000-4000 dollars above the national average.
The University of Florida offers a criminology master’s program, as well as criminal psychology and justice.
7. Stonehill College
Stonehill College is the best criminology program option for applicants looking into colleges in Massachusetts. The college is becoming more and more popular among criminology applicants. It handed out 34 bachelor’s degrees in 2017-18, which increased to 49 the following year. The average median salary is approximately equal to the national average at 31,000 dollars.
The large suburban setting with a small student population makes Stonehill a perfect fit for nature lovers but a miss if you like the big city feel.
8. Lycoming College
Lycoming College Williamsport, Pennsylvania, is one of the two leading colleges in Pennsylvania in the criminology major. It’s a small, private, non-profit college. It makes several lists for the criminology program:
Lycoming college is an excellent option for applicants with financial constraints and also produces graduates with a starting salary of 30,600 dollars (about the same as the national average).
- Best value colleges for criminology
- Most popular colleges for criminology
- Highest-paid criminology graduates
Conclusion
The college search can be a daunting process. Whether you are a fresh high school graduate applying for a bachelor’s degree or an undergrad student looking for distance learning criminology graduate schools, going to the best institution can change your life in the best way. A criminology degree from one of the schools on our list can get you the most educational college experience as well as the most fruitful, high-income job.
Can I get to join please,..I live in kenya ..I love criminology so its my pleasure if you accept me at your school