2023 Best Value Colleges for Criminology (Income $0-$30k)
133
Ranked Colleges
11,039
Degrees Awarded
$7,400
Avg Net Price*
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. 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 Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.
Criminology is the 80th most popular major in the country with 11,039 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, criminology graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $33,568 and had an average of $24,453 in loans still to pay off.
This year’s “Best Value Criminology Schools For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 133 colleges that offered a degree in criminology. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality criminology programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the criminology program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
More Ways to Rank Criminology Schools
The criminology school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Criminology Schools For Those Making $0-$30k”.
In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.
Best Value Criminology Schools For Those Making $0-$30k
The colleges and universities below are the best for criminology students whose families make $0-$30k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Criminology (Income $0-$30k)
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Pennsylvania. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Criminology Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. UPenn is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It awarded 46 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.
UPenn also made our “Best Criminology Schools” list, coming in at #1. The yearly cost to attend University of Pennsylvania is $580 for criminology students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read full report on Criminology at UPenn
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Florida. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Criminology Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Gainesville, Florida, this large public school handed out 179 degrees to qualified ’s criminology students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our criminology students whose families make $0-$30k list, UF has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Criminology Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UF is $65 for criminology students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Criminology at University of Florida
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Maryland - College Park. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Criminology Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Maryland - College Park is a large public school situated in College Park, Maryland. It awarded 346 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.
UMCP also made our “Best Criminology Schools” list, coming in at #2. The yearly cost to attend UMCP is $6,067 for criminology students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full UMCP Criminology Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of South Florida - Main Campus. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Criminology Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of South Florida - Main Campus is a large public school situated in Tampa, Florida. It awarded 442 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our criminology students whose families make $0-$30k list, USF Tampa has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Criminology Schools” ranking. It costs about $4,176 for criminology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of South Florida - Main Campus.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Criminology at University of South Florida - Main Campus
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend John Jay College of Criminal Justice. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Criminology Schools For Those Making $0-$30k. John Jay College of Criminal Justice is a fairly large public school situated in New York, New York. It awarded 219 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $788 for criminology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend John Jay.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Criminology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice
With a ranking of #6, California State University - Fresno did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Criminology Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Fresno, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s criminology degrees to 404 students in 2020-2021.
Fresno State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Criminology Schools” list. It costs about $3,859 for criminology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend California State University - Fresno.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full California State University - Fresno Criminology Report
University of California - Irvine landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Criminology Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of California - Irvine is a public institution located in Irvine, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 498 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UC Irvine did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Criminology Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for UC Irvine is $6,540 for criminology students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full UC Irvine Criminology Report
With a ranking of #8, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Criminology Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s criminology degrees to 151 students in 2020-2021.
UMN Twin Cities also took the #6 spot in our “Best Criminology Schools” ranking. It costs about $7,698 for criminology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UMN Twin Cities.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Criminology Report
With a ranking of #9, Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Criminology Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Ohio State is a public institution located in Columbus, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 147 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Ohio State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Criminology Schools” list. It costs about $7,068 for criminology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Ohio State University - Main Campus.
With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Criminology at Ohio State
University of Delaware did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Criminology Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. University of Delaware is a public institution located in Newark, Delaware. The school has a large population, and it awarded 138 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UD also made our “Best Criminology Schools” list, coming in at #4. The yearly cost to attend UD is $13,726 for Criminology students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Criminology at UD
University of Minnesota - Duluth came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminology Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Minnesota - Duluth is a medium-sized school located in Duluth, Minnesota that handed out 46 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.
UMN Duluth did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Criminology Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth is $7,843 for Criminology students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Criminology at UMN Duluth
Northern Arizona University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Criminology Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. Northern Arizona University is located in Flagstaff, Arizona and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 284 ’s criminology degrees to qualified students.
NAU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Criminology Schools” list. It costs about $10,520 for Criminology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend NAU.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Criminology at Northern Arizona University
With a ranking of #13, Washington State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Criminology Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Washington State University is a large school located in Pullman, Washington that handed out 187 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.
Wazzu also made our “Best Criminology Schools” list, coming in at #17. It costs about $7,689 for criminology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Washington State University.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Criminology at Washington State University
University of Missouri - St Louis did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Criminology Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #14. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, this fairly large public school awarded 107 degrees to qualified ’s criminology students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend UMSL is $9,991 for Criminology students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Criminology at UMSL
University of Houston - Clear Lake ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Criminology Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. UH Clear Lake is a medium-sized school located in Houston, Texas that handed out 47 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend UH Clear Lake is $9,532 for criminology students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Criminology at University of Houston - Clear Lake
North Carolina State University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Criminology Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. NC State is a large public school situated in Raleigh, North Carolina. It awarded 55 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $7,283 for Criminology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend North Carolina State University.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full NC State Criminology Report
University of Wisconsin - River Falls came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminology Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Wisconsin - River Falls is a medium-sized public school situated in River Falls, Wisconsin. It awarded 41 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $8,438 for criminology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UW - River Falls.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full UW - River Falls Criminology Report
Arizona State University - Tempe ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Criminology Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Tempe, Arizona, this large public school awarded 11 diplomas to qualified ’s criminology students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for ASU - Tempe is $8,969 for Criminology students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Criminology at Arizona State University - Tempe
University of Nevada - Reno landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value Criminology Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Nevada - Reno is a large school located in Reno, Nevada that handed out 177 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.
UNR also made our “Best Criminology Schools” list, coming in at #13. It costs about $11,795 for criminology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Nevada - Reno.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Criminology at UNR
California State University - San Marcos ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Criminology Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. California State University - San Marcos is located in San Marcos, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 266 ’s criminology degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for California State University - San Marcos is $9,397 for criminology students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Criminology at California State University - San Marcos
With a ranking of #21, Central New Mexico Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Criminology Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Albuquerque, New Mexico is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s criminology degrees to 81 students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for CNM is $1,994 for criminology students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Criminology at CNM
The University of Texas at Dallas came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminology Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. The University of Texas at Dallas is a public institution located in Richardson, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 74 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UT Dallas also claimed a top spot on our “Best Criminology Schools” list. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for UT Dallas is $11,070 for Criminology students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Criminology at UT Dallas
University of Iowa ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Criminology Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Iowa City, Iowa, and it awarded 97 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.
Iowa also took the #12 spot in our “Best Criminology Schools” ranking. It costs about $13,554 for criminology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Iowa.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.
Read full report on Criminology at Iowa
SUNY Old Westbury did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Criminology Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #24. SUNY Old Westbury is located in Old Westbury, New York and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 54 ’s criminology degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for SUNY Old Westbury is $6,839 for criminology students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Criminology at SUNY Old Westbury
Indiana State University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminology Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Indiana State is located in Terre Haute, Indiana and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 136 ’s criminology degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for Indiana State is $10,104 for criminology students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Criminology at Indiana State University
