Choosing a school is a crucial decision; determining where you see yourself best based on geography, academics, social life, and economics is difficult. Once you've decided on a college, you'll need to decide on a major.

Some people go to college utterly uncertain and find it out after a few classes. Others select their colleges depending on the specific curriculum for their field of study.

However, criminology has become an option that many students may entirely overlook.

The criminology degree encompasses a wide range of vocations, from police officers to criminal investigators to counseling.

Are you interested in learning more about this unique major?

Here are the top 10 criminology schools to get you started.

1. University Of Maryland (UMD)

The University of Maryland is at the top of our ranking because of its successful graduates, exceptional instructors, research opportunities, and diverse course offerings.

Students at the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice can study crime, terrorism, juvenile and criminal justice, prevention, delinquency, and other topics.

UMD prides itself on including diversity and ethical behavior in its course plans to completely equip students for any career in the sector after graduation.

"The criminology department at Maryland provides so many chances for those who want to work in law enforcement."

"Because Washington D.C. is so near to the college, it gives up so many chances for internships with government leaders and police officers,"

University of Maryland student Hannah Nissenbaum explained. "I would strongly suggest the criminology curriculum at UMD to prospective students because it provides a great deal of insight into our justice system and how we may improve it."

UMD graduates demonstrated how their education aided their success. Some became award-winning researchers as a result of their innovative work in the area.

Alex Piquero, a successful UMD working alumni, concentrated his research on a wide range of criminology topics, including the relationship between immigration and crime and crime rates among NFL players.

He also conducted a study on criminal tendencies during the epidemic. He has previously received UMD's "Top Terp" teaching award. His work has been honored multiple times, and he is presently the Chair of Sociology at the University of Miami.

It's no wonder that alumni like Piquero are thus successful since UMD provides seasoned teachers to help guide their students. Sally Simpson, is one of the academics who has received several honors for her work.

She received the Gilbert Geis Lifetime Achievement Award from the National White-Collar Crime Centre and the White-Collar Crime Research Consortium in 2013. This prize commemorates the late Gilbert Geis, a criminology thinker who was widely esteemed.

His work mostly centered on white-collar crime, and he even served as president of the world's largest fraud prevention association. With a 17:1 student-to-faculty ratio, teachers like Simpson get to know their students one on one, which helps them improve.

2. Arizona State University (ASU)

The School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Arizona State University is recognized for the exceptional hands-on experiences it offers its students. This program, based on the ASU Downtown Phoenix campus, gives students direct access to key criminal justice organizations to work with and learn from.

Arizona State does an excellent job of exposing its students to a wide range of various learning experiences by offering a selection of courses from which they can freely pick. 

This will not only assist students in narrowing down their professional options, but it will also prepare them for life after graduation. Some unusual major choices include homeland security, public administration, and forensics.

What students learn in the classroom may also be used outside of the classroom. On campus, students can participate in a variety of research initiatives, including the Public Safety Innovation Lab, the Children in Law Laboratory, the Centre for Correctional Solutions, and others.

Furthermore, a range of on-campus programs exists to help students become more immersed in the culture of their major.

Members of Alpha Phi Sigma, commonly known as the National Criminal Justice Honour Society, have the opportunity to work directly with the community. 

This club, which has been recognized nationally for student participation, presently has over 800 members at ASU, which fully exemplifies its mission: "to foster critical thinking, rigorous research, and lifelong learning."

The endless opportunity at ASU awaits to help you succeed in the field of criminology.

3. University of California – Irvine (UCI)

The University of California, Irvine's student-to-faculty ratio of 7:1 speaks for itself. Students may benefit from one-on-one learning sessions with their teachers in this intimate classroom setting.

Their Criminology, Law, and Society program stands out from the crowd since it is the only criminology department in the University of California system's nine institutions.

The department provides students with unique knowledge on specific themes such as disparities in the legal system, the imprisonment process, immigration laws, social networks, and more.

Students can also participate in a variety of research initiatives, such as the effects of criminal activity and social control approaches.

Students may learn more about different facets of criminology by taking courses like Juvenile Delinquency and Theories of Punishment. Professors have a diverse set of past experiences that have shaped their expertise.

Hillary L. Berk, one of the Assistant Professors, was the first to define the hit her to unknown idea of "surrogacy contracting." Simply put, "surrogacy contracting" refers to an agreement between the parents and the surrogate during the pregnancy.

Professor Elliott P. Currie is the author of several award-winning publications on drug misuse, social policy, delinquency, and crime. As a result, UCI's knowledge genuinely helps their students to go further into criminology.

4. University of Cincinnati

The University of Cincinnati's School of Criminal Justice has notable faculty members who devote themselves to their craft to help their students succeed. Alumni include Ruslana Sirman, who currently works as a Child Protection Specialist for UNICEF Ukraine, and Charmaine McGuffey, who was just elected Hamilton County Sheriff.

The school also provides certificate programs, which allow students to begin working in their chosen field of interest immediately after graduation. Correctional Rehabilitation, Foundations of Cyber security, Forensic Populations, and Paralegal Studies are now available.

Students may obtain broad skill sets in each area through these programs, making them more prepared for the actual world.

It's no surprise that graduates like Sirman and McGuffey are so successful because the department offers a free job expo that gives students valuable networking opportunities. Students may network with experts from law enforcement, social work, and other fields at this event.

Not only does the University of Cincinnati host this event, but it also has a student-run group called the Criminal Justice Society that helps students broaden their knowledge. This program allows students to gain additional hands-on experience by visiting various jails.

The wide range of options available on campus, guided by skilled instructors and programs, explains why the University of Cincinnati ranks fourth.

5. University of Pennsylvania (UPenn)

The Department of Criminology at the University of Pennsylvania offers a diverse selection of courses and research opportunities for students to completely engage in.

This institution ranks fifth on our ranking, thanks to famous academics such as Anthony A. Braga. Barga was formerly the primary investigator on particular projects that received almost $22 million in external funding.

He also won various honors, including the Civic Leadership Award in 2004.

Professors such as Barga may offer students courses such as Forensic Analysis, Criminal Justice Data Analytics, Neighborhood Dynamics of Crime, and American Death Penalty in Theory and Practice.

Students can also participate in the Crime and Justice Policy Lab. This initiative collaborates with groups to identify ideas that reduce crime and improve the judicial system.

Furthermore, UPenn provides students with a variety of courses that focus on specialized fields, such as statistics for social sciences and quantitative approaches to public policy.

Students can deal directly with distinct parts of criminology using these specialized areas of study within the major.

6. University at Albany SUNY

The University at Albany SUNY School of Criminal Justice provides significant research opportunities as well as outstanding academic teaching. The college is primarily recognized for its cutting-edge Hindelang Criminal Justice Research Centre.

This group enables students to get more active in various criminal justice programs. In fact, during the last 30 years, the institution has engaged over 100 research assistants.

Students can participate in research projects, but the University of Albany also offers unique courses to assist students to succeed. Theories of Crime and Psychological Factors of Crime are two of these classes.

Students must also take at least one statistics course, such as statistical techniques in psychology, to enhance their expertise. Students must also complete one research techniques course in addition to statistics.

Students cannot comprehend the relevance of criminology until they conduct a study and learn about all of the facts that support it.

This diverse set of coursework can enable students to properly study the various aspects of criminal justice while also ensuring their success upon graduation.

7. Stonehill College

The internship program at Stonehill College's Sociology & Criminology Department is a big reason why this small institution in Easton, Massachusetts made our list. Stonehill students must do an internship in their profession.

Some students choose to volunteer with well-known organizations such as the Women's Place Crisis Centre, Horizons for Homeless Children, the Coalition for Social Justice, and others.

Stonehill also provides community-based learning in addition to these prominent internship options. Simply put, this allows students to gain hands-on experience by conducting research, volunteering, or mentoring with community people in their profession.

"I will begin my internship with Homeland Security Investigations, a component of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, in September" (ICE).

"I will be working with a team of Special Agents and Analysts reporting directly to a Supervisory Special Agent in several investigative disciplines ranging from weapons smuggling to document and benefit fraud," Stonehill College student Colton Varholak explained.

"Stonehill's criminology curriculum prepared me for this internship by providing me with the necessary tools." Our curriculum places a strong emphasis on networking and connecting with Stonehill alumni, which are crucial skills for competing for such competitive jobs."

Stonehill's criminology curriculum also offers several groups in which students can engage. Examples are the Edwin H. Sutherland Honour Society and the Lambda Epsilon Sigma organization.

Although the Honour Society is only available to juniors and seniors, it works to create a platform for students who want to learn more about issues such as crime and delinquency.

Lambda Epsilon Sigma, on the other hand, welcomes any interested students to join and learn more about how to successfully share concepts with others.

Although students must satisfy specific requirements to join these organizations, both provide various chances for students to advance in their fields.

Furthermore, Stonehill offers unique courses to assist students to learn effectively in the classroom and kickstart their careers in criminal justice ethics, values, and diversity, as well as The Jury System.

8. Florida State University (FSU)

The Centre for Criminology and Public Policy Research, part of Florida State University's College of Criminology and Criminal Justice, stands out from the crowd.

Essentially, this center permits students to investigate evidence-based research at various levels to improve social justice.

Among the major institutes available to students are the Hate Crime Research & Policy Institute and the International and Comparative Criminology Research and Policy Institute.

The college's success is built on research, education, and service, all of which are fueled by opportunities both within and outside of the classroom.

Professors, in addition to students, participate in research. This, in turn, boosts instructors' expertise in teaching approaches to their students.

Some courses, such as Victimology, Religion and Crime, and White-Collar Crime, will not only assist students to limit their specific sector of interest but will also help them grow as more well-rounded persons within their major disciplines.

The College of Criminology and Criminal Justice began welcoming students in 1918, giving the department more than a century of experience.

9. University of Delaware (UD)

The University of Delaware's Department of SoSociology and Criminal Justice Department ent professional alumni. From Federal Probation Officers in the Attorney General's Office to Intelligence Analyst, UD nails it.

Students can kick-start their careers with two research centers: the Centre for Drug and Health Studies and the Disaster Research Centre.

The Centre for Drug and Health Studies researches topics such as drug abuse and mental health. The Disaster Research Centre, on the other hand, directs its efforts toward complicated societal challenges.

Not only do faculty members in the department direct these research institutes, but they are also well-rounded in their experiences, which plays an important role in helping students progress.

Some of them are the founders of the aforementioned research centers, while others are the initiators of their research programs. These lecturers offer a variety of courses, including Problems of Criminal Judiciary and Problems of Corrections.

To become a well-rounded professional in the sector, UD students must complete political science, psychology, sociology, and history courses. UD is certain that its students will have a diverse skill set after completing these courses.

10. The University of Missouri at St. Louis

To assist students to thrive, the Criminology and Criminal Justice School at the University of Missouri St. Louis provides significant research opportunities and internships at the local, state, and federal levels.

These internships provide students the opportunity to work directly with researchers and academics. Some of the work involves investigating racial inequities in the context of drug and criminal misuse, as well as examining the legal system.

Furthermore, the university integrates several professional associations to provide students with a variety of opportunities for becoming more informed in their industry.

The University of Missouri in St. Louis prepares its students well before and after graduation, as both students and alumni have made news by recognizing the job they do. This demonstrates the college's achievement in this field.

Some graduates have even made significant contributions to police agencies around the country, as well as the National Park Service.

There is little question that students who get a criminology degree from the University of Missouri at St. Louis will have a successful career.