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# Best Criminology Programs in the West (2026)

Updated September 30, 2026

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

This page ranks the 13 Criminology programs in the West by median earnings of Criminology graduates four years after completing, highest first. Gonzaga University leads the list at $68,190, followed by [University of Nevada-Reno](/school/university-of-nevada-reno/majors/) at $66,273 and Pacific University at $64,029.

Across the listed schools, the median is $56,676, with a spread of $39,592 from $68,190 to $28,598. For 1 of the 13 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.

The list includes 7 public and 6 private nonprofit institutions. University of California-Irvine ranks 12th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and California State University-Fresno reports the lowest average net price at $7,000.

California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt posts the highest admission rate, admitting 98% of applicants.

## The ranked list

13 schools in list order

| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Gonzaga University · Spokane, WA | $68,190 | $35,119 | $20,833 | 81.7% |
|  | Gonzaga University reports $68,190 in median earnings for its Criminology graduates four years after completing, with 44 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 2 | University of Nevada-Reno · Reno, NV | $66,273 | $15,927 | $12,674 | 73.7% |
|  | [University of Nevada-Reno](/school/university-of-nevada-reno/majors/) ranks 2nd on this list and posts a [median of $66,273](/school/university-of-nevada-reno/outcomes/) for its Criminology graduates four years after completing. |
| 3 | Pacific University · Forest Grove, OR | $64,029 | $35,273 | $23,318 | 89.6% |
|  | A private nonprofit university in Forest Grove, Pacific University shows median federal debt of $23,223 across all of its borrowers who completed, alongside $64,029 in median earnings for its Criminology graduates four years after completing. |
| 4 | Regis University · Denver, CO | $63,255 | $18,397 | $13,713 | 86.5% |
|  | Regis University admits 86% of applicants and reports $63,255 in median earnings for its Criminology graduates four years after completing. |
| 5 | University of California-Irvine · Irvine, CA | $57,935 | $14,251 | $8,123 | 28.6% |
|  | With an [admission rate of 29%](/school/university-of-california-irvine/admissions/), [University of California-Irvine](/school/university-of-california-irvine/majors/) ranks 12th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports $57,935 in median earnings for its Criminology graduates four years after completing. |
| 6 | University of Denver · Denver, CO | $57,858 | $36,131 | $20,097 | 77.8% |
|  | University of Denver posts median federal debt of $22,000 among Criminology completers who borrowed and median earnings of $57,858 four years after completing. |
| 7 | Northern Arizona University · Flagstaff, AZ | $56,676 | $14,158 | $9,709 | 89.6% |
|  | [Northern Arizona University](/school/northern-arizona-university/majors/) reports [$56,676 in median earnings](/school/northern-arizona-university/outcomes/) for its Criminology graduates four years after completing, with 245 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 8 | Eastern Washington University · Cheney, WA | $55,621 | $13,886 | $9,547 | 90.8% |
|  | [Eastern Washington University](/school/eastern-washington-university/majors/) ranks 8th on this list and shows an [average net price of $13,886](/school/eastern-washington-university/cost/) alongside median earnings of $55,621 for its Criminology graduates four years after completing. |
| 9 | California State University-San Marcos · San Marcos, CA | $55,418 | $10,229 | $6,230 | 95.1% |
|  | [California State University-San Marcos](/school/california-state-university-san-marcos/majors/) reports [$55,418 in median earnings](/school/california-state-university-san-marcos/outcomes/) for its Criminology graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $6,230 for families earning under $30,000. |
| 10 | California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt · Arcata, CA | $55,174 | $13,171 | $8,483 | 98.2% |
|  | An [admission rate of 98%](/school/california-state-polytechnic-university-humboldt/admissions/) coincides with median earnings of $55,174 for Criminology graduates of [California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt](/school/california-state-polytechnic-university-humboldt/majors/) four years after completing. |
| 11 | California State University-Fresno · Fresno, CA | $48,647 | $7,000 | $5,105 | 95.3% |
|  | [California State University-Fresno](/school/california-state-university-fresno/majors/) posts [median federal debt of $9,908](/school/california-state-university-fresno/cost/) among Criminology completers who borrowed and median earnings of $48,647 four years after completing. |
| 12 | University of La Verne · La Verne, CA | $47,273 | $20,161 | $20,151 | 71.2% |
|  | [University of La Verne](/school/university-of-la-verne/majors/) ranks 12th on this list and reports [$47,273 in median earnings](/school/university-of-la-verne/outcomes/) for its Criminology graduates four years after completing, with 58 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 13 | Mount Saint Mary's University · Los Angeles, CA | $28,598 | $21,413 | $23,849 | 73.1% |
|  | [Mount Saint Mary's University](/school/mount-saint-marys-university/majors/), a private nonprofit university in Los Angeles, reports [median earnings of $28,598](/school/mount-saint-marys-university/outcomes/) for its Criminology graduates four years after completing, with 12 graduates in the earnings cohort. |

## 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 West appear. The figures are medians for federally aided completers of the program who were working and not enrolled, measured four years after completing. For 1 of the 13 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 $68,190 to $28,598 and the list median of $56,676 cover the 13 schools with a published figure. Gonzaga University leads University of Nevada-Reno by $1,917 at the top of the list.

## Related rankings

-   [Best Criminology Programs in the United States](/rankings/best-criminology-programs/)
-   [Best Colleges in the West](/rankings/best-colleges-in-the-west/)
-   [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 South](/rankings/best-criminology-programs-in-the-south/)
-   Social Sciences Colleges in the West