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Criminal JusticeDegrees

Criminology PhD Programs

The study of crime, offending, victimization, theory and related research, often with a strong social-science and research-methods core. Criminology asks why crime happens and how societies respond; criminal justice programs are usually more focused on institutions and practice. Programs appear here only when official curriculum evidence supports the subject: a named concentration or track, or the degree's own required core — never a topic covered in one or two courses.

Listed alphabetically by school. This directory is not a ranking. What we list

American University logo

American University

PhD in Justice, Law & Criminology

Research doctoratePhDDedicated degreeDoctor of Philosophy
Format: Campus · Full-time
Location: Washington, DC
Attendance: Campus-based study
Duration: Duration not verified · 36 credits
Tuition: Tuition not verified
Next deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
Accreditation: Institution accredited: MSCHE
Subjects: Criminology · Criminal Justice · Homeland Security
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Capitol Technology University

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Forensic Criminology

Research doctoratePhDDedicated degreeOther forensicDoctor of Philosophy
Format: Fully online
Location: Laurel, MDSchool location, not a residency requirement
Attendance: No mandatory campus visits
Duration: Minimum of 60 credit hours; may require additional credit hours depending on dissertation time · 60 credits
Tuition: $980 per credit · All students — Doctoral students, per credit · Fall 2026-Summer 202
Next deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
Accreditation: Institution accredited: MSCHE
Subjects: Criminology
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CUNY Graduate School and University Center

Ph.D. in Criminal Justice

Research doctoratePhDDedicated degreeDoctor of Philosophy
Format: Campus · Full-time
Location: New York City, NY
Attendance: Campus-based study
Duration: Students are expected to complete the doctoral degree in 5 years; all students must complete within 8 years. · 60 credits
Tuition: $1,235 per semester · In-state — Level III, full time, New York residents
Next deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
Accreditation: Institution accredited: MSCHE
Subjects: Criminology · Criminal Justice
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Florida International University logo

Florida International University

Ph.D. in International Crime and Justice

Research doctoratePhDDedicated degreeDoctor of Philosophy
Format: Campus · Fully online
Location: Miami, FLSchool location, not a residency requirement
Attendance: Fully online as published (no separate campus-visit statement)
Duration: A commitment that may take up to 5 years, on average · 75 credits
Tuition: Tuition not verified
Next deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
Accreditation: Institution accredited: SACSCOC
Subjects: Criminology · Criminal Justice
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George Mason University logo

George Mason University

PhD in Criminology, Law and Society

Research doctoratePhDDedicated degreeDoctor of Philosophy
Format: Campus
Location: Fairfax, VA
Attendance: Campus-based study
Duration: About four years full-time with a prior relevant graduate degree; usually within six years for those entering without one (earning the MA and PhD) (full-time study) · 72 credits
Tuition: Tuition not verified
Next deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
Accreditation: Institution accredited: SACSCOC
Subjects: Criminology · Criminal Justice
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Format: Online
Location: Fort Lauderdale, FLSchool location, not a residency requirement
Attendance: Online attendance requirements not verified
Duration: 24 - 40 Months (estimate; time to completion varies) (estimate varying by case-by-case factors, per the page note) · 54 credits
Tuition: Tuition not verified
Next deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
Accreditation: Institution accredited: SACSCOC
Subjects: Criminology · Criminal Justice
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Liberty University logo

Liberty University

Criminal Justice (Ph.D.)

Research doctoratePhDDedicated degreeDoctor of Philosophy
Format: Fully online
Location: Lynchburg, VASchool location, not a residency requirement
Attendance: Fully online as published (no separate campus-visit statement)
Duration: Duration not verified · 60 credits
Tuition: Tuition not verified
Next deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
Accreditation: Institution accredited: SACSCOC
Subjects: Criminal Justice · Criminology
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Michigan State University logo

Michigan State University

Criminal Justice, Doctor of Philosophy

Research doctoratePhDDedicated degreeDoctor of Philosophy
Format: Campus
Location: East Lansing, MI
Attendance: Campus-based study
Duration: Duration not verified · 60 credits
Tuition: Tuition not verified
Next deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
Accreditation: Institution accredited: HLC
Subjects: Criminal Justice · Criminology
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Northeastern University logo

Northeastern University

Criminology and Justice Policy, PhD (Boston)

Research doctoratePhDDedicated degreeDoctor of Philosophy
Format: Campus · Full-time
Location: Boston, MA
Attendance: Campus-based study
Duration: Duration not verified · 54 credits
Tuition: Tuition not verified
Next deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
Accreditation: Institution accredited: NECHE
Subjects: Criminology · Criminal Justice
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Nova Southeastern University logo

Nova Southeastern University

Ph.D. in Criminal Justice

Research doctoratePhDDedicated degreeDoctor of Philosophy
Format: Fully online
Location: Fort Lauderdale, FLSchool location, not a residency requirement
Attendance: Fully online as published (no separate campus-visit statement)
Duration: Duration not verified · 60 credits
Tuition: $1,315 per credit · All students — Ph.D. in Criminal Justice, per credit hour without scholarships/program discounts
Next deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
Accreditation: Institution accredited: SACSCOC
Subjects: Criminology · Criminal Justice · Juvenile Justice
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Penn State University logo

Penn State University

Criminology, Ph.D.

Research doctoratePhDDedicated degreeDoctor of Philosophy
Format: Campus
Location: University Park, PA
Attendance: Campus-based study
Duration: Duration not verified · 30 credits
Tuition: Tuition not verified
Next deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
Accreditation: Institution accredited: MSCHE
Subjects: Criminology
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University of California-Irvine logo

University of California-Irvine

Criminology, Law and Society, Ph.D.

Research doctoratePhDDedicated degreeDoctor of Philosophy
Format: Campus
Location: Irvine, CA
Attendance: Campus-based study
Duration: normative time for completion of the Ph.D. is six years
Tuition: Tuition not verified
Next deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
Accreditation: Institution accredited: WSCUC
Subjects: Criminology
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University of Delaware logo

University of Delaware

Criminology (Ph.D.)

Research doctoratePhDDedicated degreeDoctor of Philosophy
Format: Campus
Location: Newark, DE
Attendance: Campus-based study
Duration: Duration not verified
Tuition: $1,149 per credit · All students — Standard graduate tuition base rate, per credit hour (a small number of programs vary; no residency distinction printed) · 2026-2027
Next deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
Accreditation: Institution accredited: MSCHE
Subjects: Criminology
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Format: Campus
Location: Omaha, NE
Attendance: Campus-based study
Duration: Duration not verified · 42 credits
Tuition: $399 per credit · In-state — Graduate - UNO on-campus rate, Resident · 2026-2027
Next deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
Accreditation: Institution accredited: HLC
Subjects: Criminal Justice · Criminology
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Format: Campus
Location: Columbia, SC
Attendance: Campus-based study
Duration: Duration not verified · 39 credits
Tuition: $572.25 per credit · In-state — USC Columbia graduate, resident, part-time per credit hour · 2026-2027
Next deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
Accreditation: Institution accredited: SACSCOC
Subjects: Criminology · Criminal Justice
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