best colleges for criminal psychology in the world

Last Updated on December 15, 2022

The 25 Best Criminal Psychology Degree Programs in 2021

December 15, 2021 | bestvalueCriminal Psychology Degree Programs

What is a Criminal Psychology Degree?

“Criminal psychology” is a colloquial term for forensic psychology. Forensic psychology combines elements of criminal justice and psychology. Forensic psychology is an advanced field of study, so degrees in this field are generally master’s or Ph.D. degrees. Students generally study general psychology for their bachelor’s degrees and move onto the advanced and highly specialized field of forensic psychology for their graduate studies.

What Can Graduates Do With a Criminal Psychology Degree?

Graduates of a criminal psychology degree program have several different potential career paths. Many work for local, state, or federal law enforcement agencies. Others become outside consultants for these agencies. Still others teach at the university level or open their own private practices.

What Are the Requirements For a Criminal Psychology Degree?

Forensic psychology degrees are usually found at the graduate level, so they have stringent requirements. Students must have a bachelor’s degree (usually in psychology) with an excellent GPA and high GRE scores to get into the best programs. Some programs may be more lenient, especially if students have relevant work experience. Once in the program, students must complete several years of course work and at least one internship (also called a “practicum”).

Best 25 Criminal Psychology Degree Programs

1

California State University

  • Los Angeles, California
  • Graduation Rate: 76%

California State University – Los Angeles has a top-ranked Master’s in Forensic Psychology. This program offers students the chance to be mentored by a faculty member. Students have the opportunity to do internships in courts, correctional facilities, and law enforcement agencies.

SCHOOL OVERVIEW

Tuition per year: $6,768 in-state/$18,648 non-residentVISIT SCHOOL WEBSITE2

University of Houston

  • Victoria, Texas
  • Graduation Rate: 52%

The University of Houston – Victoria offers the top-ranked Master’s degree in Forensic Psychology in Texas. Students must complete two practicum experiences at organizations in the Gulf Coast region of Texas. Many students go on to work for these organizations after graduation.

SCHOOL OVERVIEW

Tuition per year: $6,781 in-state/$16,909 non-residentVISIT SCHOOL WEBSITE3

John Jay College of Criminal Justice

  • New York City, New York
  • Graduation Rate: 43%

John Jay College of Criminal Justice, which is a constituent college of the City University of New York (CUNY) system, has a leading Master’s degree in Forensic Psychology. This degree program has only four required courses, giving students ample opportunity to customize their course of study. Students can choose to get research experience through a thesis project or to get work experience through an externship.

SCHOOL OVERVIEW

Tuition per year: $7,470 in-state/$15,420 non-residentVISIT SCHOOL WEBSITE4

Oklahoma State University

  • Stillwater, Oklahoma
  • Graduation Rate: 63%

Oklahoma State University has the top-ranked forensic psychology program in Oklahoma. This program is unique because it offers a Forensic Sciences major with a specialization in Forensic Psychology. This ensures that students get a well-rounded education in forensics.

SCHOOL OVERVIEW

Tuition per year: $9,019 in-state/$24,539 non-residentVISIT SCHOOL WEBSITE5

University of Louisiana

  • Monroe, Louisiana
  • Graduation Rate: 43%

The University of Louisiana – Monroe has one of the leading Forensic Psychology master’s degree programs in the South. This program is technically a Master’s degree in Psychology with a Forensic track. The program can be completed entirely over the Internet, and students do not have to submit a thesis.

SCHOOL OVERVIEW

Tuition per year: $8,974 in-state/$21,074 non-residentVISIT SCHOOL WEBSITE6

University of North Dakota

  • Grand Forks, North Dakota
  • Graduation Rate: 55%

7

Arizona State University

  • Tempe, AZ
  • Graduation Rate: 67%

8

Albizu University

  • San Juan, Puerto Rico
  • Graduation Rate: 87%

9

University of California

  • Irvine, California
  • Graduation Rate: 87%

10

Montclair State University

  • Montclair, New Jersey
  • Graduation Rate: 65%

11

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology

  • Chicago, IL
  • Graduation Rate: 69%

12

Spalding University

  • Louisville, Kentucky
  • Graduation Rate: 51%

13

Palo Alto University

  • Palo Alto, California
  • Graduation Rate: 30%

14

William James College

  • Boston, Massachusetts
  • Graduation Rate: 70%

15

Nova Southeastern University

  • Fort Lauderdale-Davie, Florida
  • Graduation Rate: 62%

16

Marymount University

  • Arlington, Virginia
  • Graduation Rate: 87%

17

California Baptist University

  • Riverside, California
  • Graduation Rate: 58%

18

Roger Williams University

  • Bristol, Rhode Island
  • Graduation Rate: 63%

19

Florida Institute of Technology

  • Melbourne, Florida
  • Graduation Rate: 57%

20

University of Denver

  • Denver, Colorado
  • Graduation Rate: 79%

21

Pacific University

  • Forest Grove, Oregon
  • Graduation Rate: 58%

22

Widener University

  • Chester, Pennsylvania
  • Graduation Rate: 56%

23

Fairleigh Dickinson University

  • Teaneck, New Jersey
  • Graduation Rate: 39%

24

Drexel University

  • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • Graduation Rate: 70%

25

Fordham University

  • New York City, New York
  • Graduation Rate: 79%

How We Came Up With These Rankings

Our algorithm is based on two statistics from each school. Firstly, the yearly tuition that each school charges. Some schools charge different tuition rates to in-state students and non-resident students. In these instances, we only looked at the in-state tuition rates. Secondly, we considered each school’s graduation rate. To come up with each school’s final rating, we took their yearly tuition rate and added a multiplier equal to the percentage of students who failed to graduate. E.g. School A has a yearly tuition rate of $50,000 and a graduation rate of 90%. Their rating would be 55,000 (50,000 x 110%). Lower ratings are better than higher ratings.

Are you looking for the right criminal psychology degree program? We can help you find the perfect program for your career plans.

About the author

Study on Scholarship Today -- Check your eligibility for up to 100% scholarship.