Cheapest Criminology Colleges in California

California State University-Fresno delivers the state's most affordable criminology education at just $6,480 net cost, while private alternatives like Mount Saint Mary's University charge nearly four times more at $25,009. This cost gap reflects California's dual-track higher education system, where public universities serve students planning careers in the state's expanding criminal justice sector. California employs over 180,000 law enforcement officers across agencies from the LAPD to federal border patrol, creating steady demand for criminology graduates. Early career earnings range from $28,598 to $37,671, with UC Irvine offering the highest graduation rate at 86 percent despite moderate costs of $12,840.

Programs

$6,480 – $31,601

Net Price Range

$31,093

Avg. Program Earnings

62.1%

Avg. Graduation Rate

11 Criminology Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	California State University-Fresno Fresno, California	$6,480	$6,980	54.8%	95.4%
2	California State University-San Marcos San Marcos, California	$10,550	$7,739	54.2%	95.2%
3	California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Pomona, California	$11,580	$7,439	66.7%	55.4%
4	University of California-Irvine Irvine, California	$12,840	$14,237	86.0%	21.2%
5	California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Arcata, California	$13,167	$7,913	46.6%	98.2%
6	Fresno Pacific University Fresno, California	$14,317	$35,558	55.9%	75.0%
7	Azusa Pacific University Azusa, California	$19,798	$43,600	64.4%	87.0%
8	Mount Saint Mary's University Los Angeles, California	$25,009	$48,132	53.4%	75.8%
9	California Lutheran University Thousand Oaks, California	$26,433	$50,670	74.0%	87.2%
10	University of La Verne La Verne, California	$26,925	$47,000	65.4%	73.5%
11	University of Massachusetts Global Irvine, California	$31,601	$12,520

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes CSU Fresno the cheapest criminology option in California?

CSU Fresno's net cost of $6,480 benefits from California's Cal Grant program, which covers tuition for qualifying students. The university's Central Valley location also reduces living expenses compared to coastal campuses, while maintaining strong connections to regional law enforcement agencies.

How do graduation rates vary among affordable criminology programs?

UC Irvine leads with an 86 percent graduation rate despite costing $12,840, while CSU Humboldt graduates just 46.6 percent of students at $13,167. The difference reflects UC Irvine's selective 21.15 percent acceptance rate compared to Humboldt's open admission policy of 98.18 percent.

Is earning potential consistent across California's criminology programs?

Early career earnings span nearly $10,000, from $28,598 at CSU Humboldt to $37,671 at UMass Global. Geographic factors play a major role, as graduates working in high-cost areas like Los Angeles and San Francisco typically command higher salaries than those in rural regions.

Does student debt burden differ significantly between public and private options?

Public university graduates carry debt ranging from $9,908 at CSU Fresno to $16,475 at CSU Humboldt. Private school debt reaches $29,036 at Mount Saint Mary's, though California Lutheran keeps borrowing lower at $18,250 despite higher tuition costs.

More Criminology Rankings

Best Value Criminology in California Criminology Under $20,000 in California

All Criminology Programs Best Colleges in California Best Criminology in California

Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.