Easiest Criminology Degree Programs (2025)

Do you want to enroll in a criminology program with fewer graduation requirements? Explore 10 of the easiest criminology degrees in the nation.

These programs provide students with a quality academic experience while making the process of earning a degree a bit simpler.

Keep reading to discover schools across the country that make it possible to earn a criminology degree with less effort.

Easiest Criminology Degree Programs

If you're interested in starting a program in criminology, there are plenty of great options to choose from. The following list of schools highlights some easy criminology programs available nationwide.

How We Determine the Easiest Degree Programs

When deciding which easy bachelor's degrees to include in this list, we looked at programs with acceptance rates higher than 90%.

We also chose programs that require fewer major-specific credit hours since fewer major or core courses can create a less challenging path to your degree.

Finally, we looked at each program's graduation requirements and included criminology degrees with fewer steps to complete the program (ex. taking one course instead of writing a thesis).

Keep reading to explore some of the easiest criminology degrees in the country.

1. Colorado State University - Pueblo

Colorado State University Pueblo accepts 99% of its applicants, which makes it an easier school to enroll in.

The Bachelor of Science in criminology program requires a total of 120 credits with 36 credits focused on criminology coursework.

Students must complete nine credits in core criminology courses and 27 credits in criminology electives with 18 of those elective credits being upper-division courses.

Research, field experience, and independent study opportunities are available but not required for degree completion.

2. Valparaiso University

At Valparaiso University, students can enroll in the Bachelor of Arts in sociology program with a concentration in Criminology.

Students must complete 21 credits of common core courses and 15 criminology concentration credits for a total of 36 major credits.

As a part of the program's graduation requirements, students must take the three-credit Senior Seminar.

The acceptance rate at Valparaiso University is 94% making it a great choice for students seeking an easier path to admission.

3. State University of New York at Canton

State University of New York (SUNY) at Canton is home to the Bachelor of Science in forensic criminology program.

To complete this degree, students must take three lower-level and six upper-level core courses as well as two courses from the forensic cluster and two from the criminology cluster for a total of about 39 major credits.

Students must also complete the capstone, which is a senior seminar course.

SUNY Canton accepts 95% of its applicants.

4. University of Northern Iowa

The University of Northern Iowa offers an easy criminal justice and criminology degrees with Law Enforcement and Corrections emphasis options.

The standard program requires 39 hours in required courses and criminology and criminal justice electives.

The Law Enforcement and Corrections emphases require these courses plus nine hours in law enforcement or corrections electives for a total of 48 major hours.

Students may have a senior seminar diversity course requirement for graduation. The university's acceptance rate is 95%.

5. Missouri State University

Missouri State University delivers a Bachelor of Science in criminology and criminal justice degree.

Completion of this four-year program requires 40 hours of upper-division credits (300 level and higher) and 120 total hours.

There is no field experience, thesis, or internship in this criminology program; however, students must complete a senior seminar course focused on criminology and criminal justice to graduate.

Missouri State University has a 94% acceptance rate, making it one of the easiest degree programs in criminology available.

6. University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth

The Bachelor of Arts in crime and justice studies (CJS) program at the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth requires 39 credits of major courses for degree completion.

Students must take 27 credits in required core courses and 12 credits in crime and justice studies electives.

Directed study, field inquiries, thesis research, and independent study are all available but not required. However, students must complete an internship during their senior year.

The university accepts 96% of its applicants.

7. Benedictine University

Benedictine University delivers the Bachelor of Arts in criminology, a program requiring students to earn 39 hours in major courses.

Among course requirements are six sociology, criminology, and political science courses. Students must also choose from three criminology course electives.

To graduate from the program, students are required to complete a criminology internship in a professional agency or a senior thesis under faculty supervision.

The acceptance rate at Benedictine University is 93%.

8. Kansas State University

Students attending Kansas State University can enroll in the criminology undergraduate program, which consists of 44 hours of criminology coursework.

Major requirements include six hours of criminology foundation courses, 13 hours of core courses, and additional skills requirements, social context, structural inequality, and elective courses.

A six-hour capstone � a criminology internship or a scholarship option (senior thesis or six extra hours of upper-level major courses) � is also mandatory.

Kansas State's acceptance rate is 95%.

9. Wilkes University

The 120-credit Bachelor of Arts in criminology from Wilkes University consists of 12 introductory credit hours, 20 core course hours, and nine hours in major electives.

Students must also complete the Senior Capstone, which is a three-hour course requiring enrollees to write an empirical research paper that will be presented to peers and faculty.

Total major hours required for this program are 44 credits. Of all applicants, Wilkes University accepts 94% for admission.

10. University of Texas, Permian Basin

At the University of Texas, Permian Basin, 95% of students who apply are accepted for admission.

The school offers a 120-credit Bachelor of Science in criminology/criminal justice studies with 48 credits designated for major requirements.

Attendees must complete 21 required core credits covering criminal behavior, policing, research methods, and more. Six courses (18 credits) in electives are also required.

To graduate, students must complete a three-credit senior internship or a three-credit senior seminar. Additional electives help enrollees reach graduation requirements.

How Much Does a Criminology Degree Cost?

The cost of earning a criminology degree depends on the school you attend, your residency, and other factors.

For instance, at Colorado State University Pueblo, in-state tuition reaches as low as $287 per credit hour while non-residents pay more than $612 per credit hour.

At SUNY Canton, students pay different per-credit-hour rates for in-state ($295), out-of-state ($729), and online ($353) learning.

Additional factors that could impact your cost of tuition include your course load (part-time vs. full-time) and academic level (undergraduate vs. graduate).

Can I Earn My Criminology Degree Online?

While many criminology degree programs require students to attend courses in person, you can find online criminology programs offering flexible scheduling and the ability to learn from anywhere.

For instance, the Forensic Criminology program at SUNY Canton offers courses on campus, in a Flex Class format, or online. Flex Classes allow students to switch between online and on-campus classes.

The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth also lets students learn online. The BA in crime and justice studies allows enrollees to choose between a day school/in-person format and a fully online format.

What Is the Typical Course Load for a Criminology Degree?

A typical criminology degree course load varies by program but can include at least 120 total credit hours consisting of general education and major courses.

Whether your program requires just 36 major courses for completion or upwards of 40 major courses, you'll likely take about 15 credit hours per semester to complete your degree in about four years.

Most criminology programs award three credits per course, though some upper-level courses might be worth four to six credits.

While not all programs require a final project for degree completion, some ask students to take on a research project, internship, or another capstone to graduate.

How To Get Into a Criminology Program

It's common for criminology degrees to have the same admission requirements as the universities housing the programs.

You might have to submit your high school transcripts � or college transcripts if you're transferring from another college or university.

Check with your school and program of choice to see if they need test scores or any other information to accompany your application for admission.

If you need to meet any prerequisites (i.e. English, math, science, social studies, etc.) before admission, be sure to take the required courses so you're ready to submit your grades with your application.

Start Your Criminology Degree Today

A great way to begin a criminology career is to find the easiest degrees in criminology in your area. Taking a simpler route to your degree doesn't mean sacrificing quality. Find a top criminology program and start your degree today.