29 Best colleges for Criminology and Criminal Justice in Massachusetts

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Massachusetts ranked based on their research performance in Criminology and Criminal Justice. A graph of 347K citations received by 12.1K academic papers made by 29 universities in Massachusetts was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. Harvard University

Cambridge

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#5 in the United States

#6 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,525

2. Northeastern University

Boston

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#50 in the United States

#57 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $34,207

3. Boston University

Boston

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#59 in the United States

#67 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $24,420

4. Boston College

Boston

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#71 in the United States

#82 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,519

5. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Amherst

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#97 in the United States

#109 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

6. University of Massachusetts - Lowell

Lowell

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#113 in the United States

#127 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 92%

7. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#120 in the United States

#134 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1550
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,996

8. University of Massachusetts - Boston

Boston

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#133 in the United States

#151 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 92%

9. Tufts University

Medford

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#144 in the United States

#163 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,367

10. University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester

Worcester

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#151 in the United States

#171 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,489
Male:Female: 31:69
Founded: 1962

11. Brandeis University

Waltham

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#155 in the United States

#176 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $43,550

12. Wellesley College

Wellesley

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#228 in the United States

#255 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,174

13. Suffolk University

Boston

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#241 in the United States

#271 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1195
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $33,832

14. Clark University

Worcester

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#252 in the United States

#283 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1374
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $33,865

15. Smith College

Northampton

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#269 in the United States

#301 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Average SAT: 1480
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,305

16. Williams College

Williamstown

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#287 in the United States

#320 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $15,894

17. Amherst College

Amherst

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#289 in the United States

#322 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $19,049

18. Bridgewater State University

Bridgewater

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#301 in the United States

#335 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1162
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 96%

19. Hebrew College

Newton Centre

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#357 in the United States

#394 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Enrollment: 163
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1921

20. Western New England University

Springfield

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#372 in the United States

#410 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1195
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $27,056

21. College of the Holy Cross

Worcester

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#382 in the United States

#420 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $36,014

22. Bentley University

Waltham

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#383 in the United States

#421 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1355
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $45,802

23. Westfield State University

Westfield

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#395 in the United States

#433 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $9,054
Enrollment: 4,588

24. University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth

Dartmouth

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#430 in the United States

#473 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1160
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 99%

25. Simmons University

Boston

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#435 in the United States

#478 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1305
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $28,691

26. Salem State University

Salem

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#446 in the United States

#489 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $10,319
Enrollment: 6,230

27. Massachusetts School of Law

Andover

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#471 in the United States

#516 in North America

Enrollment: 273
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1988

28. New England Law - Boston

Boston

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#487 in the United States

#533 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 1,131
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1908

29. Merrimack College

North Andover

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#494 in the United States

#540 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Net Price: $38,504
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $31,550

Closest to Massachusetts states to learn Criminology and Criminal Justice

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Rhode Island	5	76
Connecticut	11	6
New Hampshire	3	86
Vermont	3	193
New York	57	3
New Jersey	15	12
Maine	5	274
Pennsylvania	28	7
Maryland	11	13
District of Columbia	6	43
Virginia	14	25
Ohio	18	16
North Carolina	17	31
Michigan	11	1
South Carolina	6	58
Indiana	11	42
Kentucky	7	47
Tennessee	12	55
Wisconsin	10	26
Georgia	15	35
Illinois	21	4
Alabama	9	68
Iowa	5	54
Missouri	9	48
Florida	20	20
Minnesota	11	32
Mississippi	5	154
Arkansas	6	169
Louisiana	8	89
Kansas	6	91
North Dakota	3	282
Nebraska	5	70
Oklahoma	4	101
Texas	40	23
Colorado	10	75
Utah	4	83
Idaho	3	185
Arizona	3	8
Washington	9	10
Oregon	9	117
California	57	2