What Can You Do With a Criminology Degree?

A criminology degree unites a variety of disciplines, including psychology, philosophy and, yes, criminal justice – all to understand people and their behaviors. In addition to studying the mind and society, you'll likely learn how to approach, conduct and interpret research as a criminology student, equipping you with the skills and insight for a range of careers.

Whether you have a desire to work in law enforcement or support the community in other ways, earning a criminology degree can open the door to people-focused roles and organizations, and give you the flexibility to delve into other interests, such as human services, law and politics.

What Do Criminologists Do? 

Criminologists working with law enforcement take a hard look at offenders, identifying their situations and motives along with societal impacts, generational changes and other trends. They also tap into ethics, investigating why people commit crimes.

Psychology, sociology and ethics and are just a few of the disciplines criminologists use daily. Dr. Naomi Estrada, a criminal justice adjunct instructor at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), said written and verbal communication, as well as research methods and data analysis, play crucial roles, too. 

At their core, criminologists are laser-focused on gathering and interpreting research and data, using both to inform their decisions with the law in mind and to make educated recommendations to city and state officials. 

Estrada, who is also a criminal intelligence analyst in El Paso, Texas, said there are two main approaches to the criminology field:

• A reactive approach deals with events that have already transpired, working to gather details and understand what happened and why.
• A preventative approach uses predictive analyses to investigate crime patterns and cycles and other possible behaviors that can help identify future crimes. 

What Criminal Justice Jobs Can You Get With a Criminology Degree?  

If you pursue a bachelor’s degree in criminology, establishing or advancing your criminal justice career may feel like a natural decision. Many criminology courses explore public policy, data-based policing strategies and crime prevention, intervention and forecasting.

Within criminal justice, there are a variety of paths you could take, based on your interests and experience:

Crime Scene Investigator 

Brought to the spotlight by decades of popular televised crime dramas, crime scene investigation is a good career to consider if you are interested in forensic science, which is “more the chemistry, the biology of a crime,” Estrada said. 

A crime scene investigator (CSI), sometimes referred to as a forensic science technician, is responsible for collecting, documenting and analyzing evidence and DNA found at crime scenes. Crime scene investigators are paid a median of $64,940 in 2023, and the position is projected to grow by 14% by 2033, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).*

If you’re wondering how you can become a crime scene investigator, most local and state governments look for candidates with a bachelor’s degree. Along with a chemistry, biology or forensic science foundation, according to BLS. You can also expect to receive on-the-job training, perhaps continuing into specializations, such as DNA or toxicology, to help solve crimes.  

Correctional Officer

A criminology degree or a diploma from a related criminal justice program can help you land a job in corrections. In this field, you may find yourself assisting in the rehabilitation of offenders in correctional facilities as well as those on probation or parole. 

If you want to work in corrections, perhaps as a case manager or parole officer, you’ll need strong communication skills to interview and evaluate offenders, create a rehabilitation plan and support them through it, and sometimes testifying in court, too, according to BLS.

Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists earned a median income of $61,800 in 2023, BLS reported.*

Criminal Intelligence Analyst

Criminal intelligence analysts are responsible for using data to track trends and prevent crimes. O*NET OnLine said this is a research-heavy career involving information found in various databases and systems. If you end up pursuing this career, you will spend most of your time assembling intelligence by collecting and analyzing data and then presenting your findings.

Since many criminology careers involve handling private information, you may need to get a security clearance, Estrada said – especially if you work for an agency. When Estrada recently advanced to become a criminal intelligence analyst, she needed to move to top-secret clearance. 

Detective or Criminal Investigator

Criminal investigators work within city, state and federal law enforcement agencies to respond to serious crimes, such as assaults, robberies and homicides, BLS said. Some of their tasks include helping CSIs collect information and evidence from crime scenes, observing and arresting suspects and creating detailed reports and cases for legal proceedings.

According to BLS, detectives and criminal investigators made a median salary of $91,100 in 2023.*

To become a detective, you'll likely need to graduate a training academy and become a police officer first, BLS reports. BLS also said certain government agencies may also require a bachelor's degree in a related field.

Private Investigator

Unlike detectives who investigate crimes on behalf of the government, private investigators are hired to investigate legal or personal matters by private clients, BLS notes.

Jobs for private detectives and investigators are projected to grow 5% by 2033 according to BLS, and private detectives and investigators made a median of $49,540 in 2023.*

A high school diploma and related experience are typically required to become a private investigator, but some employers may prefer for to hire candidates with a bachelor's degree, BLS said.

Is Criminology a Good Career?  

Since the demand for many criminologist roles is projected to grow throughout this decade, it's a great time to consider the career path if problem-solving and studying crime interests you.

Criminologists impact the criminal justice system and beyond, helping other professionals do their best work to protect and serve their communities. 

“The profession of criminal justice is largely focused on behaviors that run afoul of expected norms, morals and laws,” said Dr. Jeff Czarnec, a retired associate dean of SNHU's criminal justice programs and current instructor of social science courses at SNHU with 23 years of experience in law enforcement. “Understanding theory as it relates to the behaviors in question is critical to the development of effective problem-solving activities, strategies and policies.” 

What Other Jobs Can You Get With a Criminology Degree?

Law enforcement may be a popular destination for those with a criminology degree, but it’s not the only path you can take. Most any organization that works with people and communities can benefit from someone with this degree, Estrada said, especially if you pair it with a master’s degree specific to the industry.

Some other careers you can work toward with a criminology background include:

• Urban Developer: If you’re interested in community building, urban developers, who typically have a master's degree, work with public officials and the community to identify, create and analyze spaces and programs to accommodate growth and revitalization, according to BLS. A criminology degree would pair well with a background in economics, urban development and political science, for example.
  
  
• Political Scientist: Political scientists combine past, present and future in their study of political systems, researching people and topics, monitoring current events and forecasting trends, according to BLS. An advanced degree is often required for this career path, although bachelor’s degree holders may get a foot in the door as research assistants.
  
  
• Investigative Journalist: Investigative journalists covering the crime beat “work with law enforcement,” according to Estrada, to help uncover facts and connect the dots as they conduct and report on their research. You might consider pairing criminology with communication if this career track sounds appealing.
  
  
• Cybersecurity Analyst: With the rise of cybercrimes, there’s a need to understand the mind of a hacker, Estrada said. If you have computer science or programming experience, becoming a cybersecurity analyst is one way of doing this. Cybersecurity analysts protect an organization’s computer networks and systems. 

A bachelor’s in criminology can help you understand important aspects of any of these careers. Still, most will require you to supplement it with field-specific experience or a relevant master’s degree. Some other possible titles you might consider with the help of an advanced degree include social worker, attorney and college instructor.

Is a Criminology Degree Worth It? 

Earning an online degree in criminology can prepare you to excel in a law enforcement career and offer you a unique lens into human and societal behavior that can prove useful across several industries.

"The hallmark of an effective study of criminology involves theory and its important relationship to the development of successful data-driven analysis, policy development and the never-ending quest to improve the quality of life for all citizens," Czarnec said.

Since criminology can be such a broad field, Estrada recommends choosing a minor in an area that interests you, such as communication, political science, information technology or sociology. Uniting your interests can help you explore directions to take your bachelor's degree once you graduate that you might not have considered.

She also suggests embracing research as an undergraduate. "You’ll know a program is good when it has research (courses) offered in it,” Estrada said.

As a criminologist, there’s a chance you’ll be assigned to research without much guidance. “You don’t know where to start sometimes,” she said. So a degree program that incorporates research in its courses will equip you with the skills needed to collect data, develop hypotheses and create threat assessments and analytical reports, among other relevant proficiencies.

While a bachelor’s in criminology is worth it to get your career started, Estrada realized most of her colleagues over her last decade of experience have advanced degrees. Earning a master’s in criminal justice or another program that aligns with your interests and career goals will make you more marketable and competitive.

*Cited job growth projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth. Actual salaries and/or earning potential may be the result of a combination of factors including, but not limited to: years of experience, industry of employment, geographic location, and worker skill.

Rebecca LeBoeuf Blanchette ’18 '23G is a writer at Southern New Hampshire University, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a minor in Professional Writing and a Master of Arts in English and Creative Writing with a concentration in Nonfiction. Connect with her on LinkedIn.