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Cheapest Criminology Colleges

Ranked by lowest net price after financial aid. See our methodology.

CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice stands out with a net price of just $3,046, making it the most affordable criminology program in the nation. This dramatic cost advantage reflects the stark divide between public and private options, with private Puerto Rican institutions averaging $8,600 while mainland public schools cluster around $10,000. The University of Florida offers both campus-based and online criminology programs at comparable low costs, with graduates earning $34,603 annually. Texas leads the earnings potential with UT Permian Basin graduates averaging $41,193, reflecting the state's growing demand for criminal justice professionals in border security and oil industry protection services. Florida's strong job market in tourism security, port operations, and federal law enforcement creates steady demand for criminology graduates. Graduation rates vary significantly, from 30.2% at Ana G. Mendez-Gurabo to 91.5% at the University of Florida's main campus, suggesting that program structure and support services matter as much as affordability when choosing where to study criminal justice.
50
Programs
$3,046 – $15,216
Net Price Range
$31,647
Avg. Program Earnings
52.3%
Avg. Graduation Rate

50 Criminology Programs

Program rankings
# School Net Price In-State Tuition Graduation Rate Acceptance Rate
1 $3,046 $7,470 55.5% 50.7%
2 $4,702 $3,876 77.7% 64.6%
3 $6,351 $6,381 91.5% 23.4%
4 $6,480 $6,980 54.8% 95.4%
5 $7,668 $6,920 30.2%
6 $8,245 $5,580 43.1% 52.8%
7 $8,264 $6,238 42.1% 99.8%
8 $9,144 $10,904 43.0% 94.7%
9 $9,421 $6,238 39.2% 98.2%
10 $9,900 $8,379 46.6% 92.1%
11 $10,043 $6,410 74.6% 43.9%
12 $10,082 $6,340 47.9% 94.7%
13 $10,204 $9,892 45.6% 96.6%
14 $10,550 $7,739 54.2% 95.2%
15 $10,904 $14,944 56.6% 54.1%
16 $10,916 $11,436 53.7% 97.0%
17 $11,056 $7,746 50.9% 69.4%
18 $11,268 $10,026 45.9% 86.5%
19 $11,580 $7,439 66.7% 55.4%
20 $11,729 $10,920 46.3% 85.4%
21 $12,188 $9,992 41.1% 92.3%
22 $12,323 $13,440 56.9% 51.1%
23 $12,473 $21,000 23.0%
24 $12,603 $7,504 42.5% 99.9%
25 $12,837 $11,988 55.9% 69.5%
26 $12,840 $14,237 86.0% 21.2%
27 $12,948 $9,401 38.0% 98.8%
28 $12,997 $9,648 61.2% 88.4%
29 $13,085 $7,754 55.1% 69.5%
30 $13,091 $8,353 47.2% 96.1%
31 $13,167 $7,913 46.6% 98.2%
32 $13,172 $9,315 63.9% 89.1%
33 $13,220 $9,548 29.4% 96.1%
34 $13,710 $29,982 68.2% 77.5%
35 $13,782 $8,816 60.9% 73.9%
36 $14,170 $12,262 44.4% 95.1%
37 $14,173 $9,776 31.6% 99.2%
38 $14,317 $35,558 55.9% 75.0%
39 $14,401 $12,997 61.6% 83.1%
40 $14,501 $11,700 48.8% 67.4%
41 $14,609 $9,728 68.9% 95.0%
42 $14,714 $8,606 60.9% 84.5%
43 $14,785 $8,250 64.3% 82.4%
44 $14,824 $10,181 57.5% 85.6%
45 $14,922 $12,652 56.9% 80.0%
46 $14,981 $12,799 48.2% 82.9%
47 $15,001 $8,689 44.1% 94.9%
48 $15,074 $14,596 21.7% 51.5%
49 $15,113 $37,844 62.4% 89.5%
50 $15,216 $11,188 45.9% 95.2%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes CUNY John Jay College so much cheaper than other criminology programs?

John Jay's $3,046 net price stems from generous New York state financial aid and the CUNY system's commitment to accessible education. The college specifically serves working-class students pursuing criminal justice careers, with 50.66% acceptance rate ensuring broad access. Despite the low cost, graduates earn $34,090 annually with manageable debt of just $8,600.

How do online criminology programs compare to traditional campus options?

The University of Florida offers both formats with nearly identical costs and outcomes. The online program costs $4,702 net while campus-based costs $6,351, yet both produce graduates earning $34,603. However, the traditional program achieves a 91.5% graduation rate compared to 77.7% online, suggesting campus support systems benefit student completion.

Where do criminology graduates earn the highest starting salaries?

Texas leads earnings potential with UT Permian Basin graduates averaging $41,193 annually. This reflects Texas's border security needs and oil industry demand for security professionals. In contrast, Puerto Rican programs average just $21,508, showing how regional job markets significantly impact graduate outcomes.

Is attending a private criminology program worth the extra cost?

Private options show mixed value propositions in this field. Puerto Rican private schools cost $7,668-$10,082 but produce graduates earning only $17,067-$21,508 annually. These programs also show lower graduation rates, ranging from 30.2% to 47.9%, making public alternatives more attractive for most students.

Does school selectivity correlate with better criminology outcomes?

Not necessarily in this field. The University of Florida's highly selective program (23.35% acceptance) produces $34,603 earners, similar to open-access schools like Cal State San Marcos (95.19% acceptance) where graduates earn $33,410. This suggests criminology success depends more on regional job markets than institutional selectivity.

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