100 Best colleges for Criminology and Criminal Justice in the United States

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Criminology and Criminal Justice. A graph of 5.93M citations received by 240K academic papers made by 556 universities in the United States 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 Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#1 in North America

#1 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 69%

2. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#3 in North America

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $29,608
Enrollment: 45,882

3. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#4 in North America

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,520

4. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#5 in North America

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $28,060

5. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#6 in North America

#8 in the World

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

6. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#7 in North America

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

7. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#8 in North America

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

8. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#9 in North America

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,172
Enrollment: 79,818

9. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#10 in North America

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,570

10. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#11 in North America

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Receiving Aid: 56%
Average Aid: $16,156
Enrollment: 56,997

11. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#12 in North America

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $30,325

12. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#13 in North America

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 69%

13. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#14 in North America

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

14. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#15 in North America

#19 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 67%

15. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#16 in North America

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

16. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#17 in North America

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

17. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#18 in North America

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $25,627
Enrollment: 47,335

18. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#20 in North America

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 80%

19. CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice

New York State | New York City

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#21 in North America

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1075
Receiving Aid: 90%
Average Aid: $9,966

20. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#22 in North America

#27 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

21. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#23 in North America

#29 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,078

22. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#24 in North America

#30 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $23,110
Enrollment: 37,297

23. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#25 in North America

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 65%

24. SUNY at Albany

New York State | Albany

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#27 in North America

#34 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $11,210
Enrollment: 17,560

25. George Mason University

Virginia | Fairfax

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#28 in North America

#36 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 79%

26. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#29 in North America

#38 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

27. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#30 in North America

#42 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 89%

28. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#31 in North America

#43 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 57%

29. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#32 in North America

#44 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 74%

30. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#33 in North America

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $14,837
Enrollment: 29,640

31. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#34 in North America

#47 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

32. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#35 in North America

#48 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

33. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#36 in North America

#49 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,981

34. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#37 in North America

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,361

35. Georgia State University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#39 in North America

#52 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1060
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 94%

36. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#40 in North America

#53 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

37. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#41 in North America

#55 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

38. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#42 in North America

#57 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $43,412

39. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#44 in North America

#61 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,303

40. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#45 in North America

#62 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

41. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#46 in North America

#63 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

42. Indiana University - Bloomington

Indiana | Bloomington

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#47 in North America

#64 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

43. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#48 in North America

#65 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $46,485

44. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#50 in North America

#68 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $15,313

45. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#51 in North America

#69 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,830

46. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#52 in North America

#70 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $39,083

47. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#53 in North America

#73 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

48. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#55 in North America

#79 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

49. American University in Washington

District of Columbia | Washington

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#56 in North America

#82 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 62%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $39,676

50. Northeastern University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#57 in North America

#84 in the World

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

51. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#58 in North America

#85 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 65%
Average Aid: $24,591
Enrollment: 40,065

52. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#59 in North America

#86 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $45,397

53. Sam Houston State University

Texas | Huntsville

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#60 in North America

#87 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1025
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 85%

54. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#61 in North America

#88 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

55. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#62 in North America

#89 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,186

56. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#63 in North America

#92 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,007
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1864

57. University of Missouri - St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#65 in North America

#94 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1175
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 100%

58. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#66 in North America

#95 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 94%

59. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#67 in North America

#97 in the World

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

60. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#69 in North America

#103 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

61. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#70 in North America

#104 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

62. Loyola University Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#72 in North America

#107 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $39,147

63. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#73 in North America

#109 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Receiving Aid: 66%
Average Aid: $25,757
Enrollment: 44,256

64. Florida International University

Florida | Miami

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#74 in North America

#110 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 91%

65. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#75 in North America

#111 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $35,552

66. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#76 in North America

#112 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 94%

67. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#77 in North America

#113 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 97%

68. University of Alabama

Alabama | Tuscaloosa

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#79 in North America

#121 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 88%

69. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#80 in North America

#124 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

70. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#81 in North America

#125 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1214
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

71. Boston College

Massachusetts | Boston

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#82 in North America

#126 in the World

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

72. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#83 in North America

#127 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 92%

73. Fordham University

New York State | New York City

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#84 in North America

#129 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $48,190

74. University of Nebraska at Omaha

Nebraska | Omaha

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#85 in North America

#131 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $7,883

75. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#86 in North America

#132 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1100
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

76. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#87 in North America

#133 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,256

77. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#88 in North America

#134 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 90%

78. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#89 in North America

#137 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 96%

79. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#90 in North America

#138 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 67%

80. Bowling Green State University

Ohio | Bowling Green

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#91 in North America

#139 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1105
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 99%

81. Albany State University

Georgia | Albany

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#92 in North America

#141 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Receiving Aid: 96%
Average Aid: $8,503
Enrollment: 6,768

82. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#93 in North America

#142 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $24,695
Enrollment: 26,133

83. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#94 in North America

#143 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

84. University of Hawaii at Manoa

Hawaii | Honolulu

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#95 in North America

#144 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1187
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 76%

85. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#96 in North America

#145 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $10,886
Enrollment: 25,685

86. University of New Hampshire

New Hampshire | Durham

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#97 in North America

#146 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1210
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 97%

87. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#98 in North America

#148 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

88. CUNY Graduate School and University Center

New York State | New York City

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#99 in North America

#149 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Enrollment: 9,536
Male:Female: 33:67
Founded: 1961

89. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#100 in North America

#150 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

90. Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia | Richmond

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#101 in North America

#152 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1140
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 92%

91. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#102 in North America

#153 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 94%

92. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#103 in North America

#155 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1508
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,300

93. DePaul University

Illinois | Chicago

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#105 in North America

#157 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $34,135

94. University of Denver

Colorado | Denver

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#106 in North America

#159 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $45,451

95. Marquette University

Wisconsin | Milwaukee

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#107 in North America

#160 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $34,322

96. Brigham Young University - Provo

Utah | Provo

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#108 in North America

#161 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $16,694

97. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#109 in North America

#163 in the World

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

98. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#110 in North America

#164 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

99. University of North Carolina at Charlotte

North Carolina | Charlotte

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#111 in North America

#165 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 75%

100. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#112 in North America

#166 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

The best cities to study Criminology and Criminal Justice in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Ann Arbor, Berkeley, New York, and Chicago.