Earning a criminal psychology bachelor's degree prepares students for careers in criminal justice, advocacy, and mental health. A criminal psychology degree also provides an excellent foundation for pursuing graduate school to become a forensic or clinical psychologist or counselor.
PayScale reports that graduates with forensic psychology bachelor's degrees earn an average annual salary of $58,280. This degree can lead to diverse career opportunities, so salary expectations vary.
This page includes a ranked list of the best colleges for criminal psychology. We also explain what criminal psychology majors can expect from a typical program, potential jobs for graduates, and how to choose the right school.
Top 10 Colleges for Criminal Psychology
Featured Online Programs
Explore program formats, transfer requirements, financial aid packages, and more by contacting the schools below.
What Is Criminal Psychology?
Criminal psychology is the study of criminal behavior, attitudes, and thinking.
Criminal profiling in the U.S. dates back to at least the 1940s, when a psychiatrist created a profile of Adolph Hitler for the U.S. government. The popularity of television shows like "CSI" and "Criminal Minds" has raised awareness of and interest in the field.
The job duties of criminal psychologists and forensic psychologists overlap, and some people use the terms interchangeably. However, criminal psychology focuses mostly on criminal behavior, while forensic psychology extends more broadly to work in criminal and civil law, academic research, and counseling.
To become a licensed criminal or forensic psychologist, you need to earn a Ph.D. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that of the 192,300 psychologists in the U.S. in 2019, 12,880 work as specialized psychologists. The agency does not include separate data on criminal psychologists. A criminal psychology bachelor's degree provides a foundation in criminal behavior and the core theories and practices of psychology, ideal for those interested in attending graduate school to become criminal psychologists.
A bachelor's also prepares students for careers as paralegals, mental health counselors, probation officers, and victim advocates.
Why Get a Criminal Psychology Bachelor's Degree?
Criminal psychology majors develop skills that open the door to new career opportunities, better salaries, and the opportunity to help people and protect society. The discipline attracts those interested in understanding what animates human criminal behavior. A criminal psychology bachelor's degree also appeals to students exploring careers in the criminal justice system and those who plan to apply to Ph.D. programs in psychology.
Gain New Skills Criminal psychology majors explore a compelling, interdisciplinary curriculum for analyzing and understanding criminal behavior. Students develop analytical, observational, and problem-solving skills.
Earn More Money A criminal psychology bachelor's degree provides learners with the knowledge and qualifications to qualify for gainful employment in the field. For example, social and community services managers earned a median annual salary of $67,150 as of 2019.
Career Opportunities Graduates find career opportunities in many areas of the criminal justice system, including the courts, law enforcement, and corrections. Criminal psychology professionals also work as victim advocates, mental health counselors, and corrections officers.
Top Bachelor's in Criminal Psychology Schools
The following list ranks the best 15 schools for criminal psychology. We create these rankings, updated for 2021, using a proprietary methodology that prioritizes key program and institutional characteristics. The link below explains our methodology in complete detail.
What To Expect From Bachelor's in Criminal Psychology Programs
The best colleges for criminal psychology help students develop an understanding of criminal motivation and behavior. They provide a foundation in the theory and practice of general psychology and criminal justice. Criminal psychology majors can pursue careers in criminal justice, advocacy, and mental health.
A typical criminal psychology bachelor's degree takes four years to complete and requires 120 credits. The cost of the degree varies considerably depending on the type of school (public or private), format (online or in-person), location, and prestige. Each applicant usually needs a high school diploma (or equivalent) and must submit ACT or SAT scores.
Programs that offer degrees relevant to criminal psychology include a bachelor of science (BS) in criminal justice with a criminal psychology concentration, a BS in psychology with a criminal psychology concentration, and a BS in criminology. Typical criminal psychology courses include the psychology of criminal behavior, abnormal psychology, forensic psychology, and social psychology.
Admission Requirements
Admission requirements for criminal psychology bachelor's degree programs vary by institution. Most schools require a high school diploma or GED certificate at minimum. More competitive programs stipulate that an applicant must hold a minimum 2.5-3.0 GPA and submit satisfactory ACT or SAT scores.
Many universities require learners to submit evidence of specific college preparatory coursework, such as four years of English, three years of math, two years of foreign language, and three years of science. Students who do not fulfill all college preparatory coursework in high school can usually complete these prerequisites in college. Applicants increase their chances of admission by demonstrating leadership capabilities or participation in extracurricular activities.
Prospective students can apply to multiple criminal psychology bachelor's programs at once with the Common App. Some schools require supplemental materials like letters of recommendation or written essays in addition to general application information.
Comparing Study Options
Prospective criminal psychology students choose from several options for bachelor's programs. Few schools offer bachelor's degrees solely in criminal psychology. In many cases, degree-seekers encounter criminal psychology or forensic psychology as concentrations in criminal justice or general psychology programs.
Some schools may not offer specific criminal psychology degrees, instead offering courses of study by other names that cover the same issues, theory, and practices foundational to the field.
Popular Criminal Psychology Courses
Coursework for criminal psychology majors varies by school. Most programs require a combination of core, elective, concentration, and general education courses, often culminating in a capstone or practicum class. The following list describes some typical courses.
Abnormal Psychology
This course explores the causes of mental disorders, along with common treatments. Topics include mental illness evaluation, the clinical characteristics of mental disorders, and myths of psychological disorders. Students develop critical thinking, assessment, and treatment skills.
Psychology of Criminal Behavior
Learners explore the roots of criminal and delinquent behavior through a cognitive lens, investigating factors that lead to crime in juveniles and adults.
Social Psychology
This class considers the impact of other people on individual behavior. Students explore group decision-making, accuracy of eye-witness testimony, advertising's effect on behavior and beliefs, and nonverbal communication.
Psychology and Law
Degree-seekers explore how psychological theories and practices relate to the legal system. Learners analyze case law for civil, domestic, and criminal disputes in areas like corporate crime and domestic abuse. They also look at the role psychologists play in ensuring fair cases.
Criminal Psychology Capstone
This culminating experience synthesizes the knowledge and skills gained in the program. Each student chooses a topic relevant to their personal interests or career goals and completes a research project with faculty approval.
How Much Will a Bachelor's in Criminal Psychology Cost?
The cost of a criminal psychology bachelor's degree varies. The College Board reports public four-year, in-state tuition at $10,560 a year on average in the 2020-21 academic year. Tuition varies considerably by state, so even those who qualify for in-state tuition pay drastically different amounts. In general, learners spend much more to attend private institutions. However, many private schools offer substantial financial aid packages.
Prospective learners should consider other potential costs when researching universities, including the price of textbooks, technology repairs or upgrades, transportation, and housing. Many students work part time or full time while earning their criminal psychology degrees.
Financing options include scholarships, grants, work-study programs, and loans. Contact your school's office of financial aid to find out about resources to help pay for your criminal psychology degree.
Jobs for Bachelor's in Criminal Psychology Majors
Criminal psychology majors pursue careers in criminal justice, mental health services, and the nonprofit and government sectors. Salaries for criminal psychology bachelor's students start at around $36,000 for victim advocates and reach up to $67,000 for social and community service managers.
The BLS reports psychologists earned a median annual salary of $80,370 in 2019. To become a criminal or forensic psychologist, you must earn a Ph.D.
Choosing the Right Criminal Psychology Program
Our ranked list of schools offers a strong starting place for aspiring students, but they should still consider other factors in their research. Consider the following aspects:
Accreditation Always ensure that your prospective college holds regional accreditation. This status makes it much easier to receive financial aid, transfer credit to another institution, and apply to graduate school.
Cost The cost of earning a criminal psychology bachelor's degree varies based on the type of school (public or private), financial aid opportunities, and tuition rate (in-state or out-of-state).
Extracurriculars Does your prospective school offer extracurricular activities like student groups, volunteer opportunities, and sports teams?
Competitiveness Prestigious institutions commonly include competitive admission requirements. Cost generally increases with prestige.
Future Education Opportunities at that School If you plan to pursue a graduate degree in criminal psychology or another field, consider finding a college that offers a bachelor's and graduate program.
Cost The cost of earning a criminal psychology bachelor's degree varies based on the type of school (public or private), financial aid opportunities, and tuition rate (in-state or out-of-state).
Program Length Most criminal psychology bachelor's programs take four years to complete. Some schools offer accelerated options that allow students to graduate more quickly.
Should You Get Your Degree Online?
Increasingly prevalent and understood as equivalent to in-person learning, distance education programs provide flexibility for working professionals, students with families, and anyone else seeking a dynamic college experience.
Many prefer the convenience and flexibility of distance education, while others find it difficult to absorb information without in-person instruction. Consider your learning style, personality, and what you hope to get out of your criminal psychology degree. If you want to participate in extracurricular activities and seek a traditional college experience, on-campus learning might suit you better.
