Criminology.
Data details: Graduation rate, gender, ethnicity, and summary are for this specific degree (6-digit CIP) from IPEDS. Salary, debt, and related financial outcomes are based on the degree category (4-digit CIP) from the College Scorecard API. ← Back to search
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Please use your own discretion when interpreting these results. For certain degrees, a limited number of institutions report to the government's College Scorecard API, which may cause the data to be skewed or less representative of national trends. Consider these figures as informative but not definitive, and consult additional sources or advisors for important decisions.
Debt to Income Ratio
Debt-to-income analysis for Criminology.: The DTI for this program is 70.6%, which is within the generally accepted range for higher education. While not as low as some top-performing degrees, this ratio suggests that most graduates can manage their student loan payments, especially if they secure employment in related fields. If you are considering Criminology., compare your expected starting salary (currently $34069) to the average debt ($24042) to ensure it fits your financial goals in .
Degrees with a DTI between 0.5 and 0.8 are common, but it's wise to plan your budget and consider loan repayment options.
Important financial note for Criminology.: The debt-to-income ratio for this program is 70.6%, which is above the recommended maximum of 80%. This means that, on average, graduates may need to dedicate a significant portion of their first-year earnings to student loan payments. If you are considering Criminology., be sure to weigh the average starting salary ($34069) against the typical student debt ($24042), and explore scholarships, grants, or alternative funding sources to reduce your financial burden in and beyond.
Key Insights
If you’re thinking about Criminology., you’re looking at a field that’s both challenging and rewarding. Typical starting salaries are around $34069, with grads carrying about $24042 in student loans and a debt-to-income ratio of 0.71—which is manageable for most.
Each year, over 10609 students complete this major, so you’ll have plenty of peers to connect with. Whether you’re motivated by salary, job outlook, or the chance to build something meaningful, Criminology. can help you get there. Make the most of your college years by seeking out hands-on experiences and building your network.
Degree Overview
Criminology (CIP 45.0401) is a social science field dedicated to understanding crime as a social phenomenon—why it occurs, who it affects, how societies respond, and what strategies actually reduce harm. Rather than focusing on enforcement alone, criminology examines crime through data, theory, policy, psychology, economics, and sociology. It is the discipline that asks not just “what happened,” but “why,” “for whom,” and “what works next.”
For a degree search site, Criminology represents analysis, prevention, and evidence-based justice. Modern societies face complex challenges involving violence, cybercrime, organized crime, inequality, mass incarceration, and public trust in justice systems. This degree appeals to students who want a research-driven, systems-level understanding of crime and justice and who are interested in shaping smarter laws, policies, and interventions rather than focusing solely on frontline enforcement.
What Is a Criminology Degree?
A Criminology degree is an academic program that studies crime, criminal behavior, victimization, and the institutions designed to address them. Unlike criminal justice degrees—which often emphasize policing, courts, and corrections—criminology focuses on the causes, patterns, and consequences of crime using scientific and analytical methods.
This degree typically focuses on:
- Theories explaining criminal behavior
- Social, economic, and environmental influences on crime
- Crime trends and statistical analysis
- Criminal law and justice policy
- Prevention, intervention, and reform strategies
Colleges and universities offer criminology programs to:
- Train students in evidence-based crime analysis
- Prepare researchers, analysts, and policy professionals
- Support reform-oriented and prevention-focused careers
- Provide a strong foundation for graduate or professional school
Criminology sits at the intersection of sociology, psychology, law, and public policy.
What Will You Learn?
Students learn how crime is defined, measured, and interpreted within social systems. You’ll study how factors such as poverty, inequality, family structure, education, peer groups, mental health, and opportunity shape criminal behavior. Coursework emphasizes critical thinking, data interpretation, and ethical analysis.
Rather than memorizing laws, students learn to question assumptions—why some behaviors are criminalized, why enforcement varies across communities, and which policies reduce harm versus those that create unintended consequences.
Core Skills You’ll Build
Graduates typically develop skills such as:
- Crime data analysis—interpreting trends and patterns
- Critical and theoretical reasoning—evaluating explanations of crime
- Research methods—quantitative and qualitative analysis
- Policy evaluation—assessing justice system effectiveness
- Ethical reasoning—fairness, rights, and accountability
- Professional writing—reports, briefs, and research summaries
- Systems thinking—understanding justice institutions as a whole
- Evidence-based decision-making—using data over assumptions
These skills are valuable in government, research, nonprofit, and analytical roles.
Topics You May Explore
Coursework in a criminology program commonly includes:
- Criminological Theory: explanations of criminal behavior
- Research Methods and Statistics: crime data analysis
- Sociology of Crime: social and structural influences
- Victimology: impacts of crime on individuals and communities
- Juvenile Delinquency: youth behavior and prevention
- Criminal Law and Justice Policy: legal frameworks
- Corrections and Punishment: incarceration and alternatives
- Policing and Social Control: enforcement and legitimacy
- Comparative and International Criminology: global perspectives
- Capstone or Research Project: applied crime analysis
Programs often emphasize research papers, data analysis, and policy evaluation.
What Jobs Can You Get With This Degree?
A Criminology degree prepares students for analytical, research, and policy-oriented roles related to crime and justice. It also serves as a strong foundation for law school or graduate study.
Common career paths include:
- Crime or Intelligence Analyst: analyzing patterns and risks
- Policy or Research Analyst: justice system evaluation
- Victim Services or Advocacy Coordinator: support and prevention
- Probation, Parole, or Program Specialist: supervision and rehabilitation
- Juvenile Justice Specialist: youth-focused roles
- Nonprofit or Think Tank Researcher: justice reform work
- Law Enforcement or Federal Analyst: research-focused roles
- Graduate or Professional School Path: law, criminology, public policy
While some graduates enter law enforcement, many work behind the scenes shaping policy and strategy.
Where Can You Work?
Graduates work in organizations concerned with safety, justice, and public policy:
- Local, state, and federal government agencies
- Law enforcement and public safety departments
- Courts, probation, and corrections agencies
- Policy institutes and research organizations
- Nonprofit and advocacy organizations
- Universities and academic research centers
- International justice and development organizations
Criminologists often influence decisions through analysis rather than enforcement.
How Much Can You Earn?
Earnings vary by role, sector, and education level.
Typical ranges include:
- Entry-level analysis or support roles: often $40,000–$55,000
- Crime analysts or program specialists: commonly $55,000–$80,000
- Senior analysts, researchers, or policy leaders: can reach $85,000–$120,000+
Graduate education and technical skills significantly increase earning potential.
Is This Degree Hard?
Criminology is considered academically demanding but accessible. It requires strong reading, writing, critical thinking, and comfort with statistics and data. Students must engage with complex social issues and sometimes uncomfortable realities.
The challenge lies in analyzing emotionally charged topics objectively while maintaining ethical clarity.
Who Should Consider This Degree?
This degree may be a strong fit if you:
- Are curious about why crime happens
- Enjoy data, research, and critical analysis
- Want to improve justice systems rather than just enforce laws
- Are interested in law, policy, or social reform
- Are considering law school or graduate study
How to Prepare in High School
To prepare for a criminology program:
- Take history, government, sociology, and psychology courses
- Develop strong writing, reading, and analytical skills
- Learn basic statistics and data interpretation
- Follow current events related to crime and justice
- Participate in debate, research, or civic engagement activities
Criminology (CIP 45.0401) is an ideal degree for students who want to understand crime deeply rather than simply react to it. It builds analytical rigor, ethical reasoning, and evidence-based thinking that can shape safer, fairer societies. For those drawn to justice, prevention, and systemic problem-solving, criminology offers both intellectual challenge and meaningful real-world impact.
Personality Fit (RIASEC Profile)
Official assessment tool by the U.S. Department of Labor