To date, we’ve asked 67 current and past criminology students about their happiness with their degree. Turns out, they rate it average.
You don’t have to choose a major right away, but at some point you will.
To help you reach the decision that is right for you, we asked students who have pursued a criminology degree to respond to questions concerning five dimensions of the educational track they chose:
- Course material: Were they interested in the material they learned?
- Intellectual fulfillment: Did they find the coursework intellectually stimulating?
- Job prospects: Did they leave the program with job opportunities?
- Personality: Was the degree a good fit for their personality?
- Overall fit: Were they happy with the program overall?
We examined their responses and combined the rankings to give us an average satisfaction score across all students. This doesn't necessarily reflect how satisfied you would be with a criminology degree, but it’s a starting point to help you evaluate your options.
How satisfied are criminology students compared to other degrees?
Overall, criminology students rate their satisfaction with their degree a 3.2 out of 5. This is standard compared to other degrees which average a rating of 3.28 across all degrees. For context, criminology students rate their happiness similarly to students in Criminology, Human Development and Family Studies and Communications, Journalism, and Related Studies.
Here are other degrees that have a similar satisfaction rating to criminology
| Degree | Avg Grad Salary | Satisfaction |
|---|---|---|
| Communication and Media Studies, Other | $68,665 | |
| Animal Sciences | $55,987 | |
| Communications, Journalism, and Related Studies | $67,800 | |
| Criminology | $51,034 | |
| Human Development and Family Studies | $45,747 | |
| Management Information Systems | $86,311 | |
| Human and Consumer Sciences | $48,678 | |
| Management Science and Quantitative Methods | $87,734 | |
| Aerospace Engineering | $95,120 |
Let's break that down further.
Are criminology students satisfied with what they’re learning?
We asked students about their satisfaction with their course material and overall intellectual fulfillment. Here’s what they said:
These ratings are meant to give you an indication about what other people enrolled in criminology experienced. While their input is useful, keep in mind that different people have had vastly different experiences, all of which were impacted by their personal motivations, professors, and specific curriculum. Always keep your own goals at the center of your decision-making process when it comes to something as significant as your education.
Did criminology graduates leave school with good job prospects?
Of course, working towards a degree is also about pursuing your desired career. Here’s what criminology grads had to say about their job prospects:
These responses represent a wide range of opinions. Things like extracurricular activities, internships and work placements can set you up for success after graduation.
Were criminology students happy with their degree overall?
This rating takes into account all factors: how demanding the program is, whether graduates felt it was worthwhile, and how fulfilling they found their educational experience.
As you consider this information and input from others, remember above all that your choice should be based on your interests, goals, passions, and abilities. Consider the future and give yourself time. If you’re feeling unsure, click here to take our career assessment and see what path could be right for you.
