15 Best Bachelor’s in Criminology Degree Programs

The University of Florida consistently ranks among the best universities in the nation, and for good reasons. UF serves nearly 58,000 students each semester across 16 colleges, including the College of Liberal Arts and Science, where you will find the largest interdisciplinary program on campus: the Department of Sociology and Criminology.

UF’s Department of Sociology and Criminology is a thriving department with over 1,000 undergraduate students. Through this best bachelor’s in criminology, you can take criminology classes online or on campus, and both tracks lead to careers within the criminal or juvenile justice systems. Some graduates begin careers right away and others pursue law school or find an affordable criminal justice master’s program.

You will complete 34 credits of criminology major courses like:

• Law and the Legal Process,
• Advanced Principles of Criminal Justice
• Research Methods

At least 18 criminology electives, as well as Statistics 1, are also required. Another graduation requirement is an exit exam on crime, criminal justice, law, and theory.

Some of the best universities were founded more than 100 years ago, so don’t let it fool you that the University of South Florida is still fairly young. Established in 1956, USF is ranked by the U.S. News & World Report as the fastest-rising university in America, educating more than 50,000 students across 13 colleges.

USF’s Department of Criminology offers a top Bachelor of Arts in criminology that can be taken through its Tampa, Sarasota-Manatee, or Petersburg campuses or entirely online. This flexible degree program provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in careers revolving around the criminal justice system:

• law enforcement
• detention
• corrections
• judiciary
• probation
• juvenile justice

At USF, you will develop critical thinking skills and gain knowledge in theory and crime through courses like:

• Theories of Criminal Behavior
• Research Methods in Criminal Justice
• Patterns of Criminal Behavior

Along with 36 general education hours, you will complete 42 credits of upper-level coursework in sociology and criminology courses, a capstone course, and an internship.

The University of Maryland-College Park is not only the state’s flagship university but one of the nation’s most distinguished public research institutions. Located just outside of Washington D.C., UMD is home to more than 40,7000 current students and offers a combined 301 academic programs across 12 colleges and schools. For an exciting academic program with lots of opportunities, check out UMD’s Criminology and Criminal Justice (CCJS) degree.

UMD’s degree is a Bachelor of Arts in criminology and criminal justice focuses on three pillars of the criminal justice system:

• courts
• policing
• corrections

You will understand crime through political, economic, and social viewpoints as you study both theory and applying research to criminological concepts.

Additionally, you have opportunities to earn credits and gain experience by conducting undergraduate research, as well as getting involved through internships and other experiential learning opportunities. If you’re interested in UMD’s CCJS program and all it has to offer, check out this link for prospective students.

The flagship university of the Minnesota system, the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, is known as “one of the most prestigious public research universities in the nation.” Currently, there are more than 485,000 UMN alumni, which includes:

• Former vice U.S. Presidents
• A Nobel Peace Prize recipient
• Inventors
• Journalists
• Athletes

At UMN, you can earn either a high-value Bachelor of Arts or Science through the sociology of law, criminology, and deviance program. You will study not only criminology but how it relates to the sociological investigations of law and deviance. The BA requires foreign language credits, while the BS focuses more on statistics, calculus, and data analysis. 

Additionally, with the BS degree, you can tailor your degree by choosing one of these four tracks:

• Health care and careers
• Organization, business, or non-profit
• Policy analysis
• Quantitative emphasis

BA students may choose one of these tracks too, but they are not required to do so. They may choose a minor in sociology or population studies. For more information on UMN’s sociology of law, criminology, and deviance degree, check out this video where a current alumni explains his experiences in the program.

Founded in 1851, Florida State University is the oldest higher education institution in the state. With  43,953 students from all around the globe and 276 degree programs, FSU is thriving. The College of Criminology and Criminal Justice is one of the nation’s best at producing “critical, independent thinkers,” so if you’re interested in pursuing either an on-campus or online bachelor’s in criminology, you won’t want to miss this one.

FSU’s affordable Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in criminology and criminal justice is offered both on campus or online and is adaptable to meet an array of career options. Aside from general education requirements, you will earn 36 credit hours in criminology courses and either earn a minor, second major from another department or complete an internship.

FSU’s criminology degree is not only known for its accessibility and adaptability, but for its partnership with some of the best criminal justice agencies. Additionally, FSU offers one of the best-value master’s degrees in criminology—a joint degree for “ambitious students seeking a more hands-on career in the field of criminal justice.” More information about FSU’s criminology programs can be found on this FAQ page.

Ohio State Buckeyes are part of one of the nation’s largest and most comprehensive universities, complete with a top-ranked medical center, cancer hospital, and research center. Within the College of Arts and Sciences, you will find 38 academic departments and schools with more than 80 majors. Through the Sociology Department, you will find our #6 ranking: a Bachelor of Arts in criminology and criminal justice studies.

OSU’s criminology program is offered from the Columbus, Marion, and Mansfield campuses. To begin this program, you must first complete Sociology 1101: Introduction to Sociology. You will then work through core courses such as:

• Criminology
• Research Methods in Sociology
• Statistics in Sociology

You will also complete either a research project, a study-abroad trip, or an internship.

One of the best parts of being an OSU criminology major is the opportunities to get involved through research projects, experiential learning, and student organizations and clubs. OSU criminology graduates start careers in:

• law enforcement
• delinquency prevention services
• corrections
• crime prevention organizations
• probation and parole

This criminology and criminal justice program is also an excellent pathway to further education. Many students pursue graduate school studies in criminology or criminal justice.

North Carolina State University is a leading public research university that is known as a “powerhouse in science, technology, engineering and math,” but excels across disciplines. NC State is a college that offers a BA in criminology.

Known for its affordability, NC State continuously ranks as “the Best Value for Students” by Money Magazine. NC State’s bachelor’s in criminology is offered through the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, an excellent undergraduate program!

NC State’s low-cost criminology program focuses on understanding “the causes, correction, and prevention of crime and the agencies involved in criminal justice.” Of the 120 required credit hours, you will take required courses such as Social Research Methods and Theories of Social Structure before you complete electives such as:

• Violence, Terrorism, and Public Policy
• Juvenile Delinquency
• Community and Crime

Additionally, a 120-hour internship with a criminal justice field agency is required during your final year. Be prepared to get involved and network with like-minded peers with service opportunities and organizations, such as the Criminal Justice Club (CJC).  If you’re interested in becoming part of the NC State Wolfpack, check out the admission requirements here.

Founded in 1890, Washington State University is known for its life-changing research and ranked among doctoral universities with “highest research activity” in the Carnegie Classification. Additionally, WSU is one of the best colleges that offer a B.A. in criminology. The bachelor’s in criminal justice and criminology is a “policy-focused curriculum” that prepares students for careers in the criminal justice system, government agencies, and private sector organizations.

Through WSU’s criminology program, you will complete 45 credits in core classes like:

• Administration of Criminal Justice
• Criminology Theory
• Realizing Justice in a Multicultural Theory

Political science and research courses are also required. By the time you’re a senior, you will complete a seminar course in Ethical Issues in Criminal Justice and an internship.

As a WSU criminology and criminal justice student, you will get involved in student organizations such as the Criminal Justice Club and the national criminal justice honor society, Alpha Phi Sigma. If traveling out of the country excites you, check out the study abroad program to London. To add flexibility, WSU offers the BA in criminal justice and criminology both on campus and online.

Missouri State University is a public university with a “close-knit community of passionate and steadfast learners” who come from all over the globe. Currently, over 26,000 students, spread across four campuses (including one in Dalian, China!) call Missouri State home. Missouri State offers both a Bachelor of Arts and Science in criminology and criminal justice, along with five certificate programs you can add to customize your degree.

The BA and BS programs are flexible, and courses can be taken on campus, online, or both. The BS focuses on criminology and criminal justice, while the BA holds a liberal arts background and entails courses in foreign languages, fine arts, and humanities. Both the BA and BS include core criminology classes like:

• Introduction to the American Criminal Justice System
• Policing
• Criminal Law and the Courts

You can also count your electives towards certificates in:

• Criminal investigation
• Terrorism and national security
• Criminal courts
• Family and juvenile justice support services
• Conservation law enforcement

Missouri State criminology alumni work in different careers, such as:

• FBI agents
• police officers
• detectives
• family and drug court administrators
• youth counselors

Penn State has been known as a leader in higher education and ground-breaking research for over 150 years. U.S. News & World Report ranks Penn State as #57 among the national universities (2020) and No. #18 among “Top Public Schools.” Additionally, Penn State’s criminology program ranks among the top ten programs in the U.S. and prepares you for a variety of careers, law school, or graduate school. 

Penn’s State Bachelor of Arts in criminology focuses on criminal justice, crime, and social research while providing a strong liberal arts background. Students will understand how crime and justice are related to “human behavior, social environments, and government policy.” General education courses, electives, and BA degree requirements make up 40 required credits for this major.

Notable courses include:

• Criminal Theory and Evidence
• Research Methods in Criminology
• Social Problems
• Race, Crime, and Justice

Some Penn State criminology graduates work in criminal justice careers such as law enforcement, research analysis, or corrections. However, others start graduate or law school. Penn State also offers integrated bachelor’s/master’s programs; check them out here.

Founded in 1874, The University of Nevada was signed into law under the Morrill Act of 1862 by President Abraham Lincoln. Today, UNR is ranked a top National University by U.S. News & World Report, known for its transformative education, innovative research, and global impact. UNR’s best- value bachelor’s degree in criminal justice provides a well-rounded curriculum with hands-on application for those who aim to become working professionals in the field.

Through UNR’s low-cost BA in criminal justice, you can either earn a comprehensive degree or choose a specialization in law and justice. Both options involve major core requirements such as:

• Introduction to Administration of Justice
• Police in America
• Courts and American Legal System
• Research Methods in Criminal Justice

UNR offers internship opportunities so you can apply knowledge learned to on-the-job training. Graduates are well prepared to start careers, including law enforcement, law, and administration. Many students also go to graduate school after graduation. Additionally, UNR is known for its affordability and reports that 46% of undergraduates receive financial aid and more than half of graduates leave with no debt.

Known for its high value—the lowest tuition of universities in the UW system—as well as its commitment to equity and inclusion, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater offers award-wining academics and a strong sense of community. Once you see all UW has to offer, you may want to join the Warhawks while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in criminology.

UW’s Sociology, Criminology, and Anthropology department offers both a Bachelor of Arts and Science in criminology. Regardless of whether you choose a BA or BS, you can choose between tracks in law enforcement and investigation or adult and youth correction. Notable courses include Methods of Social Research, Sociology of Police and Courts, and forensic criminology courses.

As an undergraduate criminology student, you have the opportunity to participate in an independent undergraduate research project, a senior seminar, or an internship. Depending on your future career goals, you can also earn certificates in:

• applied research
• corporate social responsibility
• disability studies
• forensic science

If you’re interested in applying to UW-Whitewater, check out the admissions requirements here.

The state’s flagship university, the University of New Hampshire, has produced proud Wildcat alumni like writer John Irving, filmmaker Jennifer Lee (the director of “Frozen,”), and Baseball Hall of Fame inductee. UNH features a justice studies dual major, an interdisciplinary academic program that combines social science, humanities, and professionally oriented departments like education and social work.

The goal of UNH’s justice studies undergraduate program is to produce graduates with expertise in law and justice in American society. If you are interested in both a criminology and forensics degree, you can choose to minor in forensics. You will study topics like racial justice, juvenile delinquency, and cybercrime. This criminal justice program requires you to complete 32 credits in required courses like:

• Introduction to Justice Studies
• Research Methods
• Politics of Crime and Justice
• Criminology

As a senior, you will complete an internship in New England or Washington D.C. in an organization related to the justice system. You may also consider the study abroad program to Budapest, Hungary. UNH justice studies graduates start careers like:

• criminal investigators
• drug court directors
• human rights advocates
• police officers
• profilers

The largest public research university in Virginia, George Mason University, holds the “strong ideals of academic excellence and service,” and those values translate into all 211 academic programs. Students come from over 130 countries to attend GMU, creating a diverse student body of approximately 39,000 students. You won’t want to miss GMU’s Bachelor of Science in criminology, law, and society.

GMU’s BS in criminology, law, and society focuses on the justice system and the social, moral, and human issues surrounding it. You may choose to pursue a concentration in criminal justice, homeland security and justice, or law and society. Through the B.S. in criminology courses, you study topics like criminal justice ethics, research methods and analysis, and constitutional law relating to the criminal process.

You can either choose between an internship in a justice organization or a minor in a related field, like computer science, data analysis, forensic psychology or intelligence studies. GMU criminology graduates are well prepared for careers in:

• law enforcement
• investigations
• corrections
• the courts
• private and homeland security

Ranked by U.S. News & World Report as #2 in “Top Public Schools Regional University (Midwest),” the University of Northern Iowa has been offering high-quality, affordable education since 1876. Among the 160+ majors is a Bachelor of Arts in criminology, one that has been offered at UNI since 1985!

UNI’s bachelor’s in criminology includes an optional emphasis in criminal justice and prepares students for professional careers in:

• law enforcement
• security
• probation and parole
• corrections
• juvenile justice
• crime analysis
• crime research

You may also pursue a program certificate in crime mapping to further tailor your program.

Expect to study topics through a research-based knowledge lens, like criminal behavior, policing, community and institutional corrections, and law. Experiential learning is always an important factor of a strong undergraduate program, especially in criminology. UNI encourages its students to learn through internships in police departments, private security, defense attorney practices, and other criminal justice-related settings.