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

Updated: February 29, 2024

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 3.79M citations received by 205K academic papers made by 511 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 California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#1 in North America

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $21,669
Enrollment: 45,307

2. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#3 in North America

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $36,991

3. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#4 in North America

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 74%

4. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#5 in North America

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

5. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#6 in North America

#8 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,491

6. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#7 in North America

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,647

7. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#8 in North America

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,058

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: $12,381
Enrollment: 80,065

9. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#10 in North America

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $14,731
Enrollment: 52,319

10. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#11 in North America

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 63%

11. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#12 in North America

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $24,034

12. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#13 in North America

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 84%

13. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#14 in North America

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

14. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#15 in North America

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,123

15. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#16 in North America

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 70%

16. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#17 in North America

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,499

17. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#18 in North America

#22 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 57%
Average Aid: $21,766
Enrollment: 46,430

18. CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice

New York State | New York City

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#19 in North America

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $9,043
Enrollment: 13,921

19. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#20 in North America

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

20. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#21 in North America

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 93%

21. SUNY at Albany

New York State | Albany

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#22 in North America

#27 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1220
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 97%

22. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#24 in North America

#29 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $17,411
Enrollment: 35,937

23. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#25 in North America

#31 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 89%

24. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#27 in North America

#35 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 90%

25. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#28 in North America

#37 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

26. George Mason University

Virginia | Fairfax

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#29 in North America

#38 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

27. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#30 in North America

#39 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,279

28. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#31 in North America

#42 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $11,575
Enrollment: 33,196

29. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#32 in North America

#43 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

30. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#33 in North America

#44 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 54%

31. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#34 in North America

#45 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 59%

32. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#35 in North America

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 58%

33. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#36 in North America

#47 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $36,808

34. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#37 in North America

#48 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 81%

35. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#40 in North America

#52 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $26,680

36. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#41 in North America

#55 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,060

37. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#42 in North America

#56 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

38. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#43 in North America

#57 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

39. Georgia State University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#44 in North America

#58 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 95%

40. Indiana University - Bloomington

Indiana | Bloomington

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#45 in North America

#61 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 83%

41. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#46 in North America

#62 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,694

42. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#48 in North America

#64 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

43. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#49 in North America

#65 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,432

44. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#50 in North America

#67 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1410
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $42,723

45. University of Missouri - St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#51 in North America

#69 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Average SAT: 1125
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 97%

46. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#52 in North America

#72 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

47. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#53 in North America

#74 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1220
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

48. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#54 in North America

#75 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $36,467

49. Sam Houston State University

Texas | Huntsville

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#55 in North America

#76 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1050
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 87%

50. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#56 in North America

#77 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $35,566

51. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#58 in North America

#79 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,606

52. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#59 in North America

#81 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,140
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

53. Northeastern University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#60 in North America

#82 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1495
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $35,827

54. American University in Washington

District of Columbia | Washington

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#61 in North America

#84 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $41,369

55. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#62 in North America

#85 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,698

56. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#63 in North America

#86 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 98%

57. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#64 in North America

#87 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 93%

58. Loyola University Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#65 in North America

#88 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $37,511

59. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#66 in North America

#89 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $20,548
Enrollment: 39,679

60. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#67 in North America

#90 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,829

61. Albany State University

Georgia | Albany

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#69 in North America

#95 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $11,026
Enrollment: 6,334

62. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#70 in North America

#98 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

63. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#71 in North America

#100 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 86%

64. University of Nebraska at Omaha

Nebraska | Omaha

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#72 in North America

#101 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 92%
Average Aid: $8,180

65. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#74 in North America

#103 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $33,499

66. Florida International University

Florida | Miami

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#75 in North America

#104 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1155
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 91%

67. University of Alabama

Alabama | Tuscaloosa

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#76 in North America

#106 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 87%

68. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#77 in North America

#109 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $20,782
Enrollment: 42,006

69. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#78 in North America

#112 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 88%
Average Aid: $10,689
Enrollment: 27,539

70. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#79 in North America

#113 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 95%

71. Boston College

Massachusetts | Boston

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#80 in North America

#115 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1488
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,559

72. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#81 in North America

#116 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 96%

73. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#83 in North America

#119 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 91%

74. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#84 in North America

#120 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

75. Bowling Green State University

Ohio | Bowling Green

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#85 in North America

#121 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1095
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 98%

76. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#86 in North America

#124 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

77. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#87 in North America

#127 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,095

78. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#88 in North America

#129 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1320
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 94%

79. University of New Hampshire

New Hampshire | Durham

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#89 in North America

#131 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1220
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 97%

80. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#90 in North America

#132 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1145
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 94%

81. Fordham University

New York State | New York City

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#91 in North America

#133 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $43,943

82. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#92 in North America

#134 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1215
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

83. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#93 in North America

#135 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

84. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#95 in North America

#138 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,723

85. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#96 in North America

#139 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 89%

86. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#97 in North America

#140 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $20,389
Enrollment: 26,420

87. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#98 in North America

#141 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 91%

88. Providence College

Rhode Island | Providence

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#99 in North America

#142 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $43,970

89. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#100 in North America

#143 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

90. Marquette University

Wisconsin | Milwaukee

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#101 in North America

#144 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $33,136

91. University of North Carolina at Charlotte

North Carolina | Charlotte

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#102 in North America

#146 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 75%

92. Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia | Richmond

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#103 in North America

#147 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1160
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

93. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#104 in North America

#149 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

94. Mitchell Hamline School of Law

Minnesota | Saint Paul

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#105 in North America

#150 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 1,192
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 2015

95. DePaul University

Illinois | Chicago

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#106 in North America

#151 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $32,151

96. University of Denver

Colorado | Denver

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#107 in North America

#152 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $42,423

97. CUNY Graduate School and University Center

New York State | New York City

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#108 in North America

#154 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Enrollment: 8,733
Male:Female: 32:68
Founded: 1961

98. Seattle University

Washington | Seattle

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#109 in North America

#155 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $35,412

99. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#110 in North America

#156 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $28,474

100. Brigham Young University - Provo

Utah | Provo

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

#111 in North America

#158 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1374
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $13,521

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