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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Criminology (With 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

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 a Master’s For Those Getting Aid” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Criminology is the 82nd most popular major in the country with 10,182 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, criminology graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $32,583 and had an average of $24,397 in loans still to pay off.

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

For this year’s “Best Value Criminology Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 43 colleges that offer a degree in criminology. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent criminology programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the criminology program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Criminology Schools

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Criminology Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

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. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

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

The colleges and universities below are the best for master’s degree criminology students with aid.

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

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 California - Irvine landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Irvine, California, this large public school awarded 32 diplomas to qualified masters’s criminology students in 2019-2020.

UC Irvine also made our “Best Criminology Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #2. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Irvine are $28,456, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Criminology at UC Irvine

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The University of Texas at Dallas. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Criminology Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. The University of Texas at Dallas is a public institution located in Richardson, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 14 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UT Dallas, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Criminology Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas at Dallas are $28,610.

Read full report on Criminology at The University of Texas at Dallas

#11 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of South Florida - Main Campus. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Criminology Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid. USF Tampa is a public institution located in Tampa, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 19 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at USF Tampa, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Criminology Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. 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.

Full USF Tampa Criminology Report

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. Located in Fresno, California, this large public school awarded 11 diplomas to qualified masters’s criminology 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 Fresno State Criminology Report

#5

University of Maryland - College Park

College Park, Maryland
#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Maryland - College Park. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Criminology Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. University of Maryland - College Park is located in College Park, Maryland and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 22 masters’s criminology degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our master’s degree criminology students with aid list, UMCP has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Criminology Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Maryland - College Park are $30,885.

Read more about Criminology at UMCP

#6

San Diego State University

San Diego, California

San Diego State University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminology Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. 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 SDSU are $18,658, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Criminology at SDSU

#7

University of Missouri - St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri

With a ranking of #7, University of Missouri - St Louis did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminology Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, this fairly large public school handed out 12 degrees to qualified masters’s criminology students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Missouri - St Louis are $30,154, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Criminology at University of Missouri - St Louis

#8

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

University of Pennsylvania did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminology Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #8. University of Pennsylvania is a private not-for-profit institution located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The school has a large population, and it awarded 12 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree criminology students with aid list, UPenn has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Criminology Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Pennsylvania are $41,760, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Criminology at University of Pennsylvania

University of Houston - Clear Lake did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminology Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #9. UH Clear Lake is a medium-sized school located in Houston, Texas that handed out 13 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 UH Clear Lake are $19,216.

Read more about Criminology at UH Clear Lake

#10

Indiana State University

Terre Haute, Indiana

Indiana State University landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminology Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Terre Haute, Indiana, this fairly large public school handed out 17 degrees to qualified masters’s criminology students in 2019-2020.

Indiana State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #24 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 Indiana State University are $15,346.

Full Indiana State University Criminology Report

#16 in overall quality

University of Nevada - Reno ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Criminology Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Reno, Nevada, this large public school handed out 6 degrees to qualified masters’s criminology 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 you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Criminology at UNR

#21 in overall quality

Arizona State University - Tempe came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminology Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. ASU - Tempe is a large school located in Tempe, Arizona that handed out 10 masters’s criminology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree criminology students with aid list, ASU - Tempe has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Criminology Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at ASU - Tempe are $27,048.

Read full report on Criminology at Arizona State University - Tempe

Texas A&M University - Commerce ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Criminology Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. 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.

Read more about Criminology at Texas A&M Commerce

#14

San Jose State University

San Jose, California

San Jose State University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Criminology Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. San Jose State is a large public school situated in San Jose, California. It awarded 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.

Read more about Criminology at San Jose State University

#15

Lindenwood University

Saint Charles, Missouri

Lindenwood University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminology Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #15. Lindenwood University is located in Saint Charles, Missouri and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 33 masters’s criminology degrees to qualified students.

Lindenwood University also took the #12 spot in our “Best Criminology Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Lindenwood University are $9,550, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about 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 University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Niagara University, New York. The school has a small population, and it awarded 17 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Niagara also made our “Best Criminology Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #13. Average graduate tuition and fees at Niagara University 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 came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminology Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Bowling Green State University - Main Campus is a fairly large school located in Bowling Green, Ohio that handed out 33 masters’s criminology degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at BGSU are $15,823, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Bowling Green State University - Main Campus Criminology Report

#18

Saint Vincent College

Latrobe, Pennsylvania
#7 in overall quality

Saint Vincent College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminology Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. This small school is located in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 15 masters’s criminology degrees in 2019-2020.

Saint Vincent did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Criminology Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Saint Vincent College are $14,310, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a fairly large school located in Carbondale, Illinois that handed out 6 masters’s criminology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SIUC, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best Criminology Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at SIUC are $32,928.

Read full report on Criminology at SIUC

#20

Western Kentucky University

Bowling Green, Kentucky

Western Kentucky University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminology Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. 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.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at WKU are $18,340.

Read more about Criminology at WKU

#21

University of West Georgia

Carrollton, Georgia

University of West Georgia came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminology Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of West Georgia is a fairly large school located in Carrollton, Georgia that handed out 13 masters’s criminology degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of West Georgia are $18,980, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Criminology at University of West Georgia

#20 in overall quality

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

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Missouri State, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Criminology Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Missouri State University - Springfield are $12,042.

Read full report on Criminology at Missouri State

#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 public institution located in Statesboro, Georgia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 9 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at GaSou are $22,004, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Criminology at GaSou

With a ranking of #24, Texas A&M University - Kingsville did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminology Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. 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 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. NAU is located in Flagstaff, Arizona and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 masters’s criminology degrees to qualified students.

NAU also made our “Best Criminology Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #25. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northern Arizona University are $19,489, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Criminology at NAU

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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