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2023 Most Popular Colleges for Criminology

226 Ranked Colleges
11,039 Degrees Awarded
$30,200 Avg Cost*
Most Well Attended Criminology Major

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Most Well Attended Criminology Major” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2020-2021, 11,039 people earned their degree in criminology, making the major the 80th most popular in the United States. 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 “Most Well Attended Criminology Major” ranking looked at 226 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in criminology. To top this list, a school must have a successful criminology program that graduates more students in the field than other colleges that offer the same major.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Criminology Schools

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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Most Well Attended Criminology Major” list to help you make the college decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. 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.

Most Well Attended Criminology Major

The following schools top our list of the Best “Most Well Attended Criminology Major”.

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Irvine. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Criminology Major list. University of California - Irvine is a large public school situated in Irvine, California. It awarded 498 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Criminology at University of California - Irvine

2

Out of the 226 schools in the Most Well Attended Criminology Major that were part of this year’s ranking, University of South Florida - Main Campus landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Tampa, Florida, this large public school awarded 442 degrees to qualified ’s criminology students in 2020-2021.

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 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 University of South Florida - Main Campus

3

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Fresno. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Criminology Major list. Located in Fresno, California, this large public school awarded 404 diplomas to qualified ’s criminology students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Criminology at Fresno State

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Maryland - College Park. The school came in at #4 for the Most Well Attended Criminology Major. University of Maryland - College Park is a large public school situated in College Park, Maryland. It awarded 346 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full UMCP Criminology Report

5
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Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, Arizona

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northern Arizona University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Criminology Major list. This large school is located in Flagstaff, Arizona, and it awarded 284 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.6% 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 NAU Criminology Report

6
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The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, Alabama

The University of Alabama did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Criminology Major ranking, coming in at #6. The University of Alabama is a large public school situated in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. It awarded 269 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Criminology at The University of Alabama

7

California State University - San Marcos did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Criminology Major ranking, coming in at #7. California State University - San Marcos is a public institution located in San Marcos, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 266 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

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%.

Full California State University - San Marcos Criminology Report

8

John Jay College of Criminal Justice ranked #8 on this year’s Most Well Attended Criminology Major list. 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.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Criminology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice

9
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Old Dominion University
Norfolk, Virginia

Old Dominion University landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Criminology Major ranking. Old Dominion University is a large public school situated in Norfolk, Virginia. It awarded 211 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Criminology at Old Dominion University

10
Stockton State crest
Stockton University
Galloway, New Jersey

Stockton University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Criminology Major ranking, coming in at #10. Stockton University is a medium-sized school located in Galloway, New Jersey that handed out 191 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Stockton University Criminology Report

11

Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Criminology Major ranking. Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus is located in Indiana, Pennsylvania and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 190 ’s criminology degrees to qualified students.

Read more about Criminology at IUP

12
Wazzu crest
Washington State University
Pullman, Washington

Washington State University landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Criminology Major ranking. Washington State University is a public institution located in Pullman, Washington. The school has a large population, and it awarded 187 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

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

13
UF crest
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida

With a ranking of #13, University of Florida did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Criminology Major list. Located in Gainesville, Florida, this large public school handed out 179 diplomas to qualified ’s criminology students in 2020-2021.

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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.

Full UF Criminology Report

14

University of Nevada - Reno did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Criminology Major ranking, coming in at #14. UNR is located in Reno, Nevada and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 177 ’s criminology degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Nevada - Reno Criminology Report

15
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Georgia Southern University
Statesboro, Georgia

Georgia Southern University ranked #15 on this year’s Most Well Attended Criminology Major list. GaSou is a public institution located in Statesboro, Georgia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 167 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Georgia Southern University Criminology Report

16

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Criminology Major ranking. This large school is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and it awarded 151 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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%.

Full University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Criminology Report

17

Ohio State University - Main Campus ranked #17 on this year’s Most Well Attended Criminology Major list. This large school is located in Columbus, Ohio, and it awarded 147 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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 Ohio State

18

The University of Tampa ranked #18 on this year’s Most Well Attended Criminology Major list. Located in Tampa, Florida, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 143 diplomas to qualified ’s criminology students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Criminology at UT

19
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University of Delaware
Newark, Delaware

University of Delaware did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Criminology Major ranking, coming in at #19. Newark, Delaware is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s criminology degrees to 138 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%.

Read more about Criminology at UD

20
University of West Georgia crest
University of West Georgia
Carrollton, Georgia

University of West Georgia landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Criminology Major ranking. This fairly large school is located in Carrollton, Georgia, and it awarded 137 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Criminology at University of West Georgia

20

Missouri State University - Springfield came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Criminology Major ranking. Springfield, Missouri is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s criminology degrees to 139 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Criminology at Missouri State University - Springfield

22
Indiana State crest
Indiana State University
Terre Haute, Indiana

Indiana State University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Criminology Major ranking, coming in at #22. This medium-sized school is located in Terre Haute, Indiana, and it awarded 136 ’s criminology degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Criminology at Indiana State University

23
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West Virginia University
Morgantown, West Virginia

West Virginia University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Criminology Major ranking, coming in at #23. Located in Morgantown, West Virginia, this large public school awarded 134 diplomas to qualified ’s criminology students in 2020-2021.

Full WVU Criminology Report

24
St. Joe's crest
Saint Joseph's University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Saint Joseph’s University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Criminology Major ranking. Saint Joseph’s University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 140 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full St. Joe’s Criminology Report

25
CCSU crest
Central Connecticut State University
New Britain, Connecticut

Central Connecticut State University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Criminology Major ranking. Central Connecticut State University is located in New Britain, Connecticut and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 119 ’s criminology degrees to qualified students.

Read more about Criminology at CCSU

Rest of the Best 34 in Most Well Attended Criminology Major

Not only did these schools make the top 34 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
27
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University of Rhode Island
Kingston, Rhode Island
28
29
30
Purdue University Global crest
Purdue University Global
Indianapolis, Indiana
31
Eastern Michigan crest
Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, Michigan
31
31
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University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa
34
Lasell crest
Lasell University
Newton, Massachusetts

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

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