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2022 Best Value Criminology Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid

43 Ranked Colleges
783 Degrees Awarded
$21,300 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Criminology Schools for a Master's For Those Getting Aid

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Criminology Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2019-2020, 10,182 people earned their degree in criminology, making the major the 79th most popular in the United States.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 783 criminology graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Criminology Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid” ranking analyzed 43 colleges that offered a degree in criminology. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great criminology programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the criminology program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Criminology Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Criminology Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Criminology Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Criminology (With Aid)

#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Irvine. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Criminology Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. University of California - Irvine is a large school located in Irvine, California that handed out 32 masters’s criminology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Irvine, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Criminology Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Irvine are $28,456, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Criminology at University of California - Irvine

#15 in overall quality

Out of the 43 schools in the Best Value Criminology Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, The University of Texas at Dallas landed the #2 spot on the list. UT Dallas is a large school located in Richardson, Texas that handed out 14 masters’s criminology degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Dallas did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Criminology Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas at Dallas are $28,610, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UT Dallas Criminology Report

#11 in overall quality

Out of the 43 schools in the Best Value Criminology Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of South Florida - Main Campus landed the #3 spot on the list. University of South Florida - Main Campus is a public institution located in Tampa, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 19 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

USF Tampa did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Criminology Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of South Florida - Main Campus are $21,126.

Read full report on Criminology at USF Tampa

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Fresno. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Criminology Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid. Fresno, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s criminology degrees to 11 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Fresno are $17,581, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full California State University - Fresno Criminology Report

#5

University of Maryland - College Park

College Park, Maryland
#4 in overall quality

Out of the 43 schools in the Best Value Criminology Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Maryland - College Park landed the #5 spot on the list. University of Maryland - College Park is a large public school situated in College Park, Maryland. It awarded 22 masters’s criminology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMCP, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Criminology Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Maryland - College Park are $30,885, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Criminology at UMCP

#6

San Diego State University

San Diego, California

San Diego State University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Criminology Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. SDSU is a large school located in San Diego, California that handed out 13 masters’s criminology degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at San Diego State University are $18,658, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full San Diego State University Criminology Report

#7

University of Missouri - St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri

University of Missouri - St Louis ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Criminology Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. UMSL is a public institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 12 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UMSL are $30,154.

Read more about Criminology at University of Missouri - St Louis

#8

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
#1 in overall quality

University of Pennsylvania landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminology Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 12 masters’s criminology degrees in 2019-2020.

UPenn not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Criminology Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Pennsylvania are $41,760.

Read more about Criminology at UPenn

With a ranking of #9, University of Houston - Clear Lake did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminology Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Houston, Texas, this medium-sized public school handed out 13 diplomas to qualified masters’s criminology students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UH Clear Lake are $19,216.

Full UH Clear Lake Criminology Report

#10

Indiana State University

Terre Haute, Indiana
#24 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, Indiana State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminology Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Indiana State University is a fairly large school located in Terre Haute, Indiana that handed out 17 masters’s criminology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Indiana State, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best Criminology Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana State are $15,346, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Criminology at Indiana State University

#16 in overall quality

University of Nevada - Reno came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminology Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Reno, Nevada is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s criminology degrees to 6 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNR, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Criminology Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Nevada - Reno are $21,971, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Criminology at University of Nevada - Reno

#21 in overall quality

Arizona State University - Tempe landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminology Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Arizona State University - Tempe is a public institution located in Tempe, Arizona. The school has a large population, and it awarded 10 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

ASU - Tempe did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Criminology Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at ASU - Tempe are $27,048, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full ASU - Tempe Criminology Report

Texas A&M University - Commerce came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminology Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Commerce, Texas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s criminology degrees to 18 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas A&M University - Commerce are $14,549, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Texas A&M University - Commerce Criminology Report

#14

San Jose State University

San Jose, California

San Jose State University landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminology Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. San Jose State is a large school located in San Jose, California that handed out 10 masters’s criminology degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at San Jose State are $18,790.

Full San Jose State University Criminology Report

#15

Lindenwood University

Saint Charles, Missouri
#12 in overall quality

Lindenwood University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminology Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Lindenwood University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Charles, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 33 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Lindenwood University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Criminology Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Lindenwood University are $9,550.

Read full report on Criminology at Lindenwood University

#16

Niagara University

Niagara University, New York
#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, Niagara University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminology Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Niagara is a small school located in Niagara University, New York that handed out 17 masters’s criminology degrees in 2019-2020.

Niagara not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Criminology Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Niagara are $14,893, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Criminology at Niagara

Bowling Green State University - Main Campus ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Criminology Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in Bowling Green, Ohio, and it awarded 33 masters’s criminology degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at BGSU are $15,823.

Read full report on Criminology at Bowling Green State University - Main Campus

#18

Saint Vincent College

Latrobe, Pennsylvania
#7 in overall quality

Saint Vincent College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Criminology Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Saint Vincent is located in Latrobe, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 15 masters’s criminology degrees to qualified students.

Saint Vincent not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Criminology Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Saint Vincent College are $14,310.

Read more about Criminology at Saint Vincent College

#23 in overall quality

Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Criminology Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Carbondale, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s criminology degrees to 6 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree criminology students with aid list, SIUC has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best Criminology Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at SIUC are $32,928, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full SIUC Criminology Report

#20

Western Kentucky University

Bowling Green, Kentucky

With a ranking of #20, Western Kentucky University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminology Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Western Kentucky University is a public institution located in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 5 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Western Kentucky University are $18,340, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Criminology at WKU

#21

University of West Georgia

Carrollton, Georgia

With a ranking of #21, University of West Georgia did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminology Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Carrollton, Georgia, this fairly large public school awarded 13 diplomas to qualified masters’s criminology students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of West Georgia are $18,980, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Criminology at University of West Georgia

#20 in overall quality

Missouri State University - Springfield landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminology Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Missouri State University - Springfield is a large public school situated in Springfield, Missouri. It awarded 11 masters’s criminology degrees in 2019-2020.

Missouri State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Criminology Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Missouri State are $12,042.

Read full report on Criminology at Missouri State University - Springfield

#23

Georgia Southern University

Statesboro, Georgia

Georgia Southern University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Criminology Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. GaSou is a large public school situated in Statesboro, Georgia. It awarded 9 masters’s criminology degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Georgia Southern University are $22,004, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Criminology at Georgia Southern University

Texas A&M University - Kingsville did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminology Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #24. Texas A&M University - Kingsville is a medium-sized public school situated in Kingsville, Texas. It awarded 19 masters’s criminology degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Texas A&M Kingsville are $14,066.

Full Texas A&M University - Kingsville Criminology Report

#25

Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, Arizona
#25 in overall quality

With a ranking of #25, Northern Arizona University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminology Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Flagstaff, Arizona, and it awarded 8 masters’s criminology degrees in 2019-2020.

NAU also took the #25 spot in our “Best Criminology Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at NAU are $19,489, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Criminology at Northern Arizona University

Notes and References

References

  • 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 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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