by our College Data Analytics TeamCriminology is a major within the field of sociology that explores the behavior of criminals, causes of crime, and the criminal justice system that is in place today. Students who study this major gain a better understanding of why people choose to commit crimes, and what we can do to prevent and lower crime rates. Crime in our society, criminal psychology, and probation and the parole system are some subjects that will be discussed in class.
Classes you can expect to see while studying Criminology include: probation and parole; women and crime; social research; deviance; sociology; punishment; law; youth and crime; research methods; gender, crime, and justice; and policing society. You may have the opportunity to choose a concentration in Demography and Population studies.
Criminology was the 80th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 11,039 degrees in this year alone. This represents a 7.8% increase in criminology degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 10,182.
This year's Best Criminology Schools ranking compares 137 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of criminology programs later in this article.
This major involves classes in the subjects of law, psychology, and society. The goal is for students to gain an understanding of criminal laws and policy. You will be required to study course cases, analyze data and utilize various research methods. Be prepared to work with your peers on group projects and presentations. Strong communication skills will help you succeed.
Critical thinking, reading, and writing skills will help you read, retain and report vast amounts of data and information. You will spend time writing research papers as well as applying theories learned from class to real life situations. Your writing and presentation skills should be clear and detailed. Many colleges will require you to complete an internship in the field before graduation.
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. Specific criminology careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
There are many different criminology degree levels. You can spend many years getting as high as a in criminology to something that takes less time like a . Different criminology degrees vary in how long they take.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to criminology, with approximately 46.2% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for criminology workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 47.5% |
| Master’s Degree | 26.3% |
| Doctoral Degree | 14.3% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 4.4% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 2.2% |
90.8% of criminology workers have at least a bachelor's. View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in criminology careers have.
This of course varies depending on which criminology career you choose.
Criminologists study crime and social behaviors and deviations from social norms. Within criminology you can work in corrections, counseling, criminal investigation, diversion programming, teaching, research and policy studies, intervention programs, and private investigation. Many criminologists have a minimum of a Master's Degree.
Want a job when you graduate with your criminology degree? Criminology careers are expected to grow 8.0% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to criminology.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Managers | 1,071,700 | 8.0% |
| Sociologists | 3,500 | 0.0% |
Recently graduated criminology students earned an average of $33,568 in 2019-2020. Earnings can range from as low as $14,409 to as high as $56,448. As you might expect, salaries for criminology graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for criminology graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers criminology grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Managers | $115,590 |
| Sociologists | $90,290 |
With over 402 different criminology degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased criminology school rankings to help you with this.
Learn about other programs related to Criminology that might interest you.
Gain a solid foundation in the American justice system, criminal law and social science when you earn your associate degree in criminal justice online from Southern New Hampshire University.
Gain the management, leadership, data analysis and budgeting skills you need to advance in the criminal justice field with this online master's from Southern New Hampshire University.
Navigating today's complex criminal justice system takes a great communicator with real–world perspective. The goal of SNHU's Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice is to get you there. You'll learn from professionals across all disciplines who bring their experience to the classroom.
One of 12 majors within the Social Sciences area of study, Criminology has other similar majors worth exploring.
| 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 |
