25 Best universities for Criminology and Criminal Justice in Nigeria

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Nigeria ranked based on their research performance in Criminology and Criminal Justice. A graph of 18.8K citations received by 4.08K academic papers made by 25 universities in Nigeria 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. University of Ibadan

Nigeria | Ibadan

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#8 in Africa

#388 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 41,269
Founded: 1948

2. University of Nigeria

Nigeria | Nsukka

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#13 in Africa

#571 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1960

3. Obafemi Awolowo University

Nigeria | Ife

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#15 in Africa

#649 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Enrollment: 32,480
Founded: 1962

4. University of Calabar

Nigeria | Calabar

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#20 in Africa

#859 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 40,645
Founded: 1975

5. University of Ilorin

Nigeria | Ilorin

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#23 in Africa

#876 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Enrollment: 76,000
Founded: 1975

6. University of Benin

Nigeria | Benin

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#25 in Africa

#917 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1970

7. University of Lagos

Nigeria | Lagos

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#29 in Africa

#950 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 48,680
Founded: 1962

8. Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti

Nigeria | Ado Ekiti

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#30 in Africa

#968 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1982

9. Olabisi Onabanjo University

Nigeria | Ago Iwoye

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#31 in Africa

#1030 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Founded: 1982

10. Nnamdi Azikiwe University

Nigeria | Awka

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#32 in Africa

#1069 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 40,000
Founded: 1991

11. University of Jos

Nigeria | Jos

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#36 in Africa

#1129 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 52,000
Founded: 1975

12. Delta State University, Abraka

Nigeria | Abraka

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#38 in Africa

#1134 in the World

Founded: 1992

13. Lagos State University

Nigeria | Ojo

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#39 in Africa

#1148 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1983

14. University of Uyo

Nigeria | Uyo

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#40 in Africa

#1150 in the World

Founded: 1991

15. Federal University, Oye-Ekiti

Nigeria | Oye-Ekiti

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#44 in Africa

#1211 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Enrollment: 20,000
Founded: 2011

16. Ahmadu Bello University

Nigeria | Zaria

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#46 in Africa

#1238 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 49,436
Founded: 1962

17. Bayero University Kano

Nigeria | Kano

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#49 in Africa

#1289 in the World

Enrollment: 45,810
Founded: 1975

18. Covenant University

Nigeria | Ota

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#50 in Africa

#1290 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2002

19. Babcock University

Nigeria | Ilishan-Remo

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#51 in Africa

#1292 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Founded: 1999

20. University of Port Harcourt

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#57 in Africa

#1341 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1975

21. Adekunle Ajasin University

Nigeria | Akungba Akoko

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#58 in Africa

#1347 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Founded: 1982

22. Usmanu Danfodio University

Nigeria | Sokoto

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#63 in Africa

#1450 in the World

Founded: 1975

23. Rivers State University

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#66 in Africa

#1473 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1980

24. Nasarawa State University

Nigeria | Keffi

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#67 in Africa

#1478 in the World

Enrollment: 35,000
Founded: 2002

25. Ebonyi State University

Nigeria | Abakaliki

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#69 in Africa

#1501 in the World

Founded: 2000

The best cities to study Criminology and Criminal Justice in Nigeria based on the number of universities and their ranks are Ibadan, Nsukka, Ife, and Calabar.