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# Best Criminology Programs in the South (2026)

Updated September 30, 2026

Regional list from [Best Criminology Programs in the United States](/rankings/best-criminology-programs/)

This page ranks the 38 Criminology programs in the South by median earnings of Criminology graduates four years after completing, highest first. [University of Miami](/school/university-of-miami/majors/) leads the list with median earnings of $70,461 for its graduates four years after completing.

Across the listed programs, the figure ranges from $70,461 to $31,482, with a median of $50,847. For 3 of the 38 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.

Public institutions account for 20 of the programs and private nonprofits for 18. University of Florida ranks 29th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. University of Florida posts the lowest average net price at $6,541.

## The ranked list

38 schools in list order

| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | University of Miami · Coral Gables, FL | $70,461 | $37,244 | $15,978 | 18.9% |
|  | [University of Miami](/school/university-of-miami/majors/) reports [$70,461 in median earnings](/school/university-of-miami/outcomes/) of Criminology graduates four years after completing and an admission rate of 19%. |
| 2 | University of Maryland-College Park · College Park, MD | $67,258 | $15,678 | $2,962 | 44.8% |
|  | Median earnings of $67,258 for its Criminology graduates four years after completing place [University of Maryland-College Park](/school/university-of-maryland-college-park/majors/) 2nd on this list. |
| 3 | University of Delaware · Newark, DE | $63,553 | $17,799 | $10,901 | 70.6% |
|  | [University of Delaware](/school/university-of-delaware/majors/) posts an [average net price of $17,799](/school/university-of-delaware/cost/) and a median of $63,553 in earnings for its Criminology graduates four years after completing. |
| 4 | The University of Tampa · Tampa, FL | $60,742 | $36,211 | $30,011 | 40.3% |
|  | [The University of Tampa](/school/the-university-of-tampa/majors/) [admits 40% of applicants](/school/the-university-of-tampa/admissions/) and its Criminology graduates earn a median of $60,742 four years after completing. |
| 5 | Mount St. Mary's University · Emmitsburg, MD | $60,428 | $22,655 | $11,603 | 73.8% |
|  | Graduates across all fields who borrowed left with a median of $25,391 in federal loans at Mount St. Mary's University, where the Criminology program reports median earnings of $60,428 four years after completing. |
| 6 | Oklahoma Wesleyan University · Bartlesville, OK | $59,143 | $28,358 | $25,011 | 66.2% |
|  | Oklahoma Wesleyan University ranks 1107th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and its Criminology graduates earn a median of $59,143 four years after completing. |
| 7 | Loyola University New Orleans · New Orleans, LA | $58,058 | $23,696 | $20,131 | 93.1% |
|  | Loyola University New Orleans reports median earnings of $58,058 for its Criminology graduates four years after completing, alongside an admission rate of 93%. |
| 8 | University of Florida · Gainesville, FL | $57,953 | $6,541 | $1,982 | 24.2% |
|  | [University of Florida](/school/university-of-florida/majors/) carries an [average net price of $6,541](/school/university-of-florida/cost/) and its Criminology graduates earn a median of $57,953 four years after completing. |
| 9 | William Peace University · Raleigh, NC | $57,305 | $21,649 | $15,779 | 94.3% |
|  | William Peace University ranks 9th on this list, with a Criminology earnings cohort of 17 graduates and a median of $57,305 four years after completing. |
| 10 | Old Dominion University · Norfolk, VA | $56,659 | $14,638 | $9,739 | 90.4% |
|  | [Old Dominion University](/school/old-dominion-university/majors/) [admits 90% of applicants](/school/old-dominion-university/admissions/) and reports median earnings of $56,659 for its Criminology graduates four years after completing. |
| 11 | Saint Edward's University · Austin, TX | $56,224 | $25,578 | $20,799 | 81.4% |
|  | [Saint Edward's University](/school/saint-edwards-university/majors/) posts an [average net price of $25,578,](/school/saint-edwards-university/cost/) while its Criminology graduates earn a median of $56,224 four years after completing. |
| 12 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh · Raleigh, NC | $55,303 | $17,303 | $6,382 | 41.7% |
|  | [North Carolina State University at Raleigh](/school/north-carolina-state-university-at-raleigh/majors/) [ranks 99th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/north-carolina-state-university-at-raleigh/) among nonprofit four-year institutions and its Criminology graduates earn a median of $55,303 four years after completing. |
| 13 | University of South Florida · Tampa, FL | $53,883 | $9,812 | $4,122 | 43.2% |
|  | [University of South Florida](/school/university-of-south-florida/majors/) reports [median earnings of $53,883](/school/university-of-south-florida/outcomes/) for its Criminology graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $9,812. |
| 14 | Georgia Southern University · Statesboro, GA | $53,766 | $15,267 | $12,162 | 87.9% |
|  | [Georgia Southern University](/school/georgia-southern-university/majors/) ranks 14th on this list and shows an [admission rate of 88%](/school/georgia-southern-university/admissions/). |
| 15 | Delaware State University · Dover, DE | $53,128 | $13,910 | $11,135 | 46.6% |
|  | Graduates across all fields who borrowed left with a median of $26,000 in federal loans at Delaware State University, a public university in Dover. |
| 16 | Southern Wesleyan University · Central, SC | $52,534 | $15,464 | $14,084 | 99.5% |
|  | Southern Wesleyan University posts median earnings of $52,534 for its Criminology graduates four years after completing, with a cohort of 8 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 17 | The University of Texas at Dallas · Richardson, TX | $52,244 | $18,267 | $12,814 | 65.1% |
|  | [The University of Texas at Dallas](/school/the-university-of-texas-at-dallas/majors/) sits at 74th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports an [average net price of $18,267](/school/the-university-of-texas-at-dallas/cost/). |
| 18 | University of Houston-Clear Lake · Houston, TX | $52,087 | $15,563 | $7,330 | 90.5% |
|  | [University of Houston-Clear Lake](/school/university-of-houston-clear-lake/majors/) [admits 91% of applicants](/school/university-of-houston-clear-lake/admissions/) and reports median earnings of $52,087 for its Criminology graduates four years after completing. |
| 19 | Barry University · Miami, FL | $51,180 | $22,613 | $20,804 | 77.2% |
|  | [Barry University](/school/barry-university/majors/) carries an [average net price of $20,804](/school/barry-university/cost/) for families earning under $30,000 and ranks 19th on this list. |
| 20 | University of North Carolina Wilmington · Wilmington, NC | $50,514 | $20,109 | $10,778 | 64.2% |
|  | [University of North Carolina Wilmington](/school/university-of-north-carolina-wilmington/majors/) reports [median earnings of $50,514](/school/university-of-north-carolina-wilmington/outcomes/) for its Criminology graduates four years after completing, with a cohort of 100 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 21 | Clemson University · Clemson, SC | $50,133 | $22,253 | $13,607 | 38.3% |
|  | [Clemson University](/school/clemson-university/majors/) [ranks 232nd on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/clemson-university/) among nonprofit four-year institutions and shows an admission rate of 38%. |
| 22 | University of West Georgia · Carrollton, GA | $50,048 | $12,786 | $10,339 | 51.6% |
|  | Graduates across all fields who borrowed left with a [median of $23,970](/school/university-of-west-georgia/outcomes/) in federal loans at [University of West Georgia](/school/university-of-west-georgia/majors/), which reports median earnings of $50,048 for its Criminology graduates four years after completing. |
| 23 | Florida Southern College · Lakeland, FL | $49,829 | $28,551 | $23,624 | 64.4% |
|  | [Florida Southern College](/school/florida-southern-college/majors/) carries an [average net price of $23,624](/school/florida-southern-college/cost/) for families earning under $30,000 and posts median earnings of $49,829 for its Criminology graduates four years after completing. |
| 24 | Virginia Union University · Richmond, VA | $49,024 | $13,235 | $11,424 | 98.0% |
|  | Virginia Union University admits 98% of applicants and sits at 1008th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. |
| 25 | Flagler College · Saint Augustine, FL | $48,913 | $30,525 | $21,733 | 80.8% |
|  | [Flagler College](/school/flagler-college/majors/), a private nonprofit university in Saint Augustine, reports [median earnings of $48,913](/school/flagler-college/outcomes/) for its Criminology graduates four years after completing, with 31 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 26 | Mississippi State University · Mississippi State, MS | $48,805 | $17,595 | $14,332 | 77.6% |
|  | Graduates across all fields who borrowed at [Mississippi State University](/school/mississippi-state-university/majors/) left with a [median of $22,142](/school/mississippi-state-university/outcomes/) in federal loans, and the school's Criminology completers earn a median of $48,805 four years after graduating. |
| 27 | St. Mary's University · San Antonio, TX | $48,731 | $21,145 | $18,352 | 97.8% |
|  | St. Mary's University admits 98% of applicants and ranks 854th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. |
| 28 | University of Lynchburg · Lynchburg, VA | $48,597 | $22,235 | $20,692 | 43.0% |
|  | With an admission rate of 43%, University of Lynchburg posts median earnings of $48,597 for its Criminology graduates four years after completing. |
| 29 | University of Central Arkansas · Conway, AR | $47,387 | $16,511 | $14,656 | 89.5% |
|  | [University of Central Arkansas](/school/university-of-central-arkansas/majors/) carries an [average net price of $16,511](/school/university-of-central-arkansas/cost/) and reports $47,387 in median earnings for its Criminology graduates four years after completing. |
| 30 | Mary Baldwin University · Staunton, VA | $47,117 | $12,756 | $12,717 | Not reported |
|  | Mary Baldwin University shows an average net price of $12,717 for families earning under $30,000, alongside median earnings of $47,117 for its Criminology graduates four years after completing. |
| 31 | Arkansas State University · Jonesboro, AR | $46,293 | $12,366 | $10,098 | 82.3% |
|  | [Arkansas State University](/school/arkansas-state-university/majors/) [ranks 300th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/arkansas-state-university/) among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports a median of $46,293 for its Criminology graduates four years after completing. |
| 32 | Johnson C Smith University · Charlotte, NC | $46,215 | $20,894 | $19,940 | 45.2% |
|  | Johnson C Smith University admits 45% of applicants, and its Criminology graduates earn a median of $46,215 four years after completing. |
| 33 | Western Kentucky University · Bowling Green, KY | $45,124 | $10,990 | $7,087 | 93.9% |
|  | Graduates across all fields who borrowed at [Western Kentucky University](/school/western-kentucky-university/majors/) left with a [median of $22,095](/school/western-kentucky-university/outcomes/) in federal loans, and the school's Criminology completers earn a median of $45,124 four years after graduating. |
| 34 | Coker University · Hartsville, SC | $41,738 | $20,286 | $16,789 | 94.0% |
|  | Coker University reports median earnings of $41,738 for its Criminology graduates four years after completing, with 21 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 35 | The University of Texas Permian Basin · Odessa, TX | $41,193 | $12,723 | $11,930 | 94.9% |
|  | [The University of Texas Permian Basin](/school/the-university-of-texas-permian-basin/majors/) carries an [average net price of $12,723](/school/the-university-of-texas-permian-basin/cost/) and ranks 298th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. |
| 36 | Texas A&M University-Kingsville · Kingsville, TX | $40,965 | $12,090 | $10,207 | 90.9% |
|  | [Texas A&M University-Kingsville](/school/texas-am-university-kingsville/majors/) shows an [average net price of $10,207](/school/texas-am-university-kingsville/cost/) for families earning under $30,000, and its Criminology graduates earn a median of $40,965 four years after completing. |
| 37 | Howard Payne University · Brownwood, TX | $32,563 | $23,627 | $24,043 | 67.4% |
|  | Howard Payne University, a private nonprofit university in Brownwood, reports median earnings of $32,563 for its Criminology graduates four years after completing, with 9 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 38 | West Virginia University · Morgantown, WV | $31,482 | $15,634 | $9,450 | 89.0% |
|  | [West Virginia University](/school/west-virginia-university/majors/) [admits 89% of applicants](/school/west-virginia-university/admissions/) and posts an average net price of $15,634 alongside median earnings of $31,482 for its Criminology graduates four years after completing. |

## 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 the South appear. The figure captures the median earnings of federally aided Criminology completers who were working and not enrolled, measured four years after completing. For 3 of the 38 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. University of Miami leads the list at $70,461, with University of Maryland-College Park trailing by $3,203 at $67,258.

## Related rankings

-   [Best Criminology Programs in the United States](/rankings/best-criminology-programs/)
-   [Best Colleges in the South](/rankings/best-colleges-in-the-south/)
-   [Best Criminology Programs in the Midwest](/rankings/best-criminology-programs-in-the-midwest/)
-   [Top Criminology Programs in the Northeast by Earnings](/rankings/best-criminology-programs-in-the-northeast/)
-   [Best Criminology Programs in the West](/rankings/best-criminology-programs-in-the-west/)