Best Criminology Programs in California (2026)
Updated
This page ranks the 6 Criminology programs in California by the median earnings of Criminology graduates four years after completing. University of California-Irvine leads the list with median earnings of $57,935 for its graduates four years after completing.
Across the listed programs, the reported figure ranges from $57,935 to $28,598, with a median of $51,910. For 1 of the 6 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.
Four of the six programs are at public institutions and two are at private nonprofits. University of California-Irvine ranks 12th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.
California State University-Fresno posts the lowest average net price on the list, at $7,000. California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt admits 98% of applicants, the highest admission rate on the page.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Irvine · Irvine, CA | $57,935 | $14,251 | $8,123 | 28.6% |
| University of California-Irvine ranks 1st on this list with median earnings of $57,935 for its Criminology graduates four years after completing, and an admission rate of 29%. | |||||
| 2 | California State University-San Marcos · San Marcos, CA | $55,418 | $10,229 | $6,230 | 95.1% |
| California State University-San Marcos posts an average net price of $10,229 and median federal debt of $14,810 among Criminology completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 3 | California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt · Arcata, CA | $55,174 | $13,171 | $8,483 | 98.2% |
| With an admission rate of 98%, California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt ranks 3rd on this list and reports median earnings of $55,174 for its Criminology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 4 | California State University-Fresno · Fresno, CA | $48,647 | $7,000 | $5,105 | 95.3% |
| California State University-Fresno ranks 26th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and carries an average net price of $7,000. | |||||
| 5 | University of La Verne · La Verne, CA | $47,273 | $20,161 | $20,151 | 71.2% |
| A private nonprofit university, University of La Verne reports median earnings of $47,273 for its Criminology graduates four years after completing and median federal debt of $26,000 among Criminology completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 6 | Mount Saint Mary's University · Los Angeles, CA | $28,598 | $21,413 | $23,849 | 73.1% |
| Mount Saint Mary's University ranks 6th on this list, with an average net price of $21,413 and an admission rate of 73%. | |||||
How this list is ordered
Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their Criminology graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in California appear. The figures are medians for federally aided Criminology completers who were working and not enrolled, measured four years after completing. For 1 of the 6 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The range from $57,935 to $28,598 spans $29,337, with University of California-Irvine leading California State University-San Marcos by $2,517.
Related rankings
- Best Criminology Programs in the United States
- Best Colleges in California
- Best Criminology Programs in New York
- Best Criminology Programs in Texas
- Criminology Programs in Florida
- Criminology Programs in Massachusetts