Best Criminology Colleges in India 2026: Fees, Admission, Courses

About 60+ best Criminology colleges are there in India. Of these, 31 colleges are privately owned, 21 colleges are owned by public/government organisations, and public-private entities own 1 college. Some of the top Criminology colleges in India are KJC, Nehru Arts and Science College, Dr. MGR Educational and Research Institute, Maharaja's College, University of Mysore, Institute of Distance Education, University of Madras, University of Lucknow, etc.

Students can secure admission on merit-based or through entrance tests like CUET PG, CUET, etc. Top courses offered BA, MA, BSc, MSc, etc.

As per popularity basis, listed below are the best Criminology colleges in India along with their tuition fees:

Top Colleges	Tuition Fee
Kristu Jayanti College	INR 2.8 lakh
Dr. MGR Educational and Research Institute	INR 1.08 lakh
Maharaja's College, University of Mysore	INR 26,170 – INR 41,580
Institute of Distance Education, University of Madras	INR 16,710
University of Madras	INR 3,000

Disclaimer: This information is sourced from official website/ media reports.

Yes, it is estimated that joining the best Criminology colleges in India can be affordable as most colleges have tuition fees of less than INR 1 lakh, listed below are some colleges along with their tuition fees:

Low-cost Colleges	Tuition Fee
Maharaja's College, University of Mysore	INR 26,170 – INR 41,580
Institute of Distance Education, University of Madras	INR 16,710
University of Madras	INR 3,000
University of Lucknow	INR 60,320
MGU Kerala	INR 5,200

Disclaimer: This information is sourced from official website and may vary.

Some personality traits speak loudly if someone is made for Criminology, to be honest. Having an analytical mind, sharp eyes, curiosity, and being detail-oriented are the signs that you're the best for such fields. 

On top of that, a Criminology course will teach you a lot about legal systems, criminal psychology, social justice, etc., and help you enhance your skills.

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Criminology Career

Getting admission in ARSD College can be considered moderately difficult as the admission is based on CUET. Scoring well in CUET is mandatory to get a seat in the college as the competition is high. For popular courses such as BCom (Hons), MCom, BSc and BA (Hons), the cutoffs tend to be quite high due to the college's reputation within Delhi University. 

There are about 15+ BA Criminology colleges in India. Some of them are mentioned below along with their tuition fees:

Top Colleges	Tuition Fee
Institute of Distance Education, University of Madras	INR 16,710
National Forensic Sciences University	INR 6 lakh
Maharaja's College, University of Mysore	INR 41,580
Nehru Arts and Science College	-
Shri Krishna University	-

Disclaimer: This information is sourced from official website/ media reports.

Hi

According to Naukri.com - average salary for criminology professionals in India is 3.5 Lacs per year (INR). It has the potential to climb to 25 Lacs per year with experience. 

Refer to the table below for more information

Job Profiles	Average Annual Salary (in INR)
Criminologist	INR 5 lakh
Detective	INR 4 lakh
Forensic Science Technician	INR 6 lakh
Criminal Lawyer	INR 3.5 lakh
Lecturer	INR 4 lakh
Social Worker	INR 2.5 lakh
Crime Investigator	INR 3 lakh

Source - Multiple external/ official sites, data may vary.

Yes, there are many private Criminology colleges in India. Some of them are mentioned below along with their tuition fees:

Private Colleges	Tuition Fee
Kristu Jayanti College Admission	INR 2.8 lakh
Dr. MGR Educational and Research Institute Admission	INR 1.08 lakh
RV University Admission	INR 6.4 lakh
Srinivas University Admission	INR 2.69 Lacs – INR 4.29 lakh
Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences Admission	INR 1.2 lakh

Disclaimer: This information is sourced from official website and may vary.

Of course, it is. Non-police roles are equally important in crime investigation and research. Being a Criminology professional, you can help CIDs, law firms, and research labs through analyzing evidence, understanding criminal psychology, and crime prevention.

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Criminology Career

Is Nehru Arts and Science College is generally considered a Tier 2. The institute is approved by UGC and is ISO certified and  accredited with an A Grade by NAAC. The institute offers undergrdaute courses across various streams such as Microbiology, Food Science & Nutrition, and others. NASC offer good quality education, infrastructure, and placement opportunities. 

Yes, joining the top Criminology colleges in India can be worthwhile for you. For that, you need to check its ROI. Listed below are some colleges along with their tuition fees and average placement package:

Top Colleges	Tuition Fee	Average Placement Package
Kristu Jayanti College Courses	INR 2.8 lakh	INR 6.5 LPA
University of Lucknow Courses	INR 60,320	INR 7.46 LPA
Pondicherry University Courses	INR 6,000	INR 3 LPA
Patna University Courses	INR 37,000	INR 3.6 LPA
Srinivas University Courses	INR 2.69 Lacs – INR 4.29 lakh	INR 10 LPA

Disclaimer: This information is sourced from official website/ media reports/ NIRF website and may vary.

Yes, listed below are the top government Criminology colleges in India along with their tuition fees:

Public/Govt. Colleges	Tuition Fee
Maharaja's College, University of Mysore Admission	INR 26,170 – INR 41,580
University of Madras Admission	INR 3,000
University of Lucknow Admission	INR 60,320
National Forensic Sciences University Admission	INR 2.4 Lacs – INR 6 lakh
MGU Kerala Admission	INR 5,200

Disclaimer: This information is sourced from official website and may vary.

It's vast, to speak honestly. This field is not only emerging but also growing at a fast pace. You can join CBI, forensic labs, law firms, educational institutions, or other investigative agencies. 

Criminology professionals are not only required in India but are highly-valued in other countries as well. If you upskill yourself in this field, there are high chances of you getting rich-paying jobs abroad, even in their government departments.

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Criminology Career

It's simple. Both are interrelated fields, but serve different purposes. Criminology reads criminals' psychology, analyzes crime patterns, and works on prevention. 

Forensic Science, on the other hand, is all about collecting evidence from a crime scene, test them for new findings to help officials solve the case. 

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Criminology Courses

Forensic Science Courses

B.E/BTech, B.Arch, BBA, MBA, and MBBS are among the popular courses offered by Chennai's Dr. M.G.R. Educational and Research Institute.
Diploma programs in mechanical, production, automobiles mechatronics, plastic molding, CSE, IT, ECE, civil engineering, and chemistry are also available at the institute. 
Additionally, the institute provides undergraduate degree programs in BDS, B.Sc., BPT, B.Com, BCA, B.Ed, and M.B.B.S.  
There are fifteen specializations available in the four-year B.Tech normal course. Six specializations are available in the B.Tech part-time and lateral entry programs. 11 specialties are available for the B.Sc. degree. 
The institute offers online and offline application options, an admission exam, and a flexible credit-based system.

Neither is better nor bad. Both options are available because they cater to different types of studies and career options. A BA in Criminology will help you gain skills related to social analysis. For example, you'll be able to determine why the crime was committed. Or, human behaviour, legal systems, etc.

A BSc in Criminology, on the other hand, will give you practical skills to find evidence from the crime scene, work in forensic labs, assist researchers, etc.

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Criminology Courses

There are several reasons why candidates prefer to study Criminology course as a main part of their course. Some of these reasons are listed below

• The demand for Criminologists has risen with the increasing crime rate in the country as well as across the globe.
• The candidates who wish to join the Armed Forces, the Police Department and Investigation Agencies can pursue the course in order to mentally prepare themselves.
• It can also be pursued by candidates who have a genuine interest in the subject and wish to work in academia.
• Criminology courses are available in several specialisations like Law enforcement, Criminal Ethology, Criminal Justice and Cyber Law. Therefore, Lawyers can pursue this course to gain better insights into the field.
• Journalists and Crime Reporters can also study Criminology. Gaining a holistic understanding of crime and criminals from a different perspective can improve their work performance.
• The salary of an entry-level Criminologist ranges from INR 2.8 LPA to INR 6.5 LPA.

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Criminology Courses

Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences has been ranked by various ranking bodies for its Management, Engineering, and several other programmes. The below-mentioned are the national and international Karunya University rankings:

Ranking Body	Ranks
Asian University Rankings - Southern Asia 2026	212
Asian University Rankings 2026	694
QS Sustainability Ranking 2026	1401-1500
QS Asian University Rankings - Southern Asia 2025	212
QS Asian University Rankings 2025	681-700
QS Sustainability Ranking 2025	1301-1350
NIRF 2025 under the University category	101-150
NIRF 2025 under the Engineering category	101-150
NIRF 2025 under the Overall category	151-200

Yes, Mahatma Gandhi University, is one of the major Universities in Kerala. MG University has been ranked 43 among the top Universities in India by NIRF 2025. MG University offers students as well as staff a wide range of amenities. Separate hostels for boys and girls, a library, canteen, auditorium, laboratories, medical facilities, and many other amenities are available at Mahatma Gandhi University. The library of the university has all the necessary resources to help the students with their academics. This includes books, journals, magazines, e-books, etc.

Patna University offers over 135 courses, including 18 undergraduate, 42 postgraduate, and 38 doctoral programmes in the streams such as Science, Commerce, Law, Management, Arts, Mass Communication, Education, etc. The university also offers a range of Diploma courses and certificates. The entrance exams accepted by the university include MAT. CMAT BEET, MEET, PUCET, etc.

Yes, Srinivas University offers good placements to its students. A total 3137 students registered during Srinivas University placements 2026, of which 1566 secured jobs. BTech students from SIT grabed highest package of INR 38 LPA. MBA students from IMC achieved highest and average salary of INR 7 LPA and 2.50 LPA.

Yes, UPRTOU Allahabad is recognised by the Distance Education Council (DEC), National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE), All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and UGC Distance Education Bureau. Rajarshi Tandon Open University was established in 1999 and is located in Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad). UPRTOU Allahabad (now Prayagraj) offers over 127 UG, PG, Certificate, Diploma and PG Diploma courses. UPRTOU courses are offered across nine disciplines, namely Humanities, Sciences, Social Sciences, Management Studies, Education, Computer and Information Sciences, Health Sciences, Agriculture Sciences and Vocational Studies.

SAGE University is a private university that is recognised by organizations like UGC. Below given are the reasons to choose SAGE University, Bhopal:

• Good Ranking: The university is ranked 67 in the Engineering category, and 65 under Engineering (Private) by the Times 2025.
• Placement Opportunities: The university has a placement cell and gives placement opportunities in companies like Capgemini, Cognizant, Wipro, TCS, HCL, Infosys, IBM, Walmart, etc.
• Scholarship Options: The university also gives merit scholarships on the basis of SEE result.

Pandit Ravi Shankar Shukla University Raipur admisison is based on merit and entrance exams. The university accepts national entrance exams such as CAT, MAT, XAT, ATMA, and others. Candidates need to take the course-specific entrance examinations at PRSU. The applications for PRSU admissions are accepted via both online and offline modes.

As per the Shiksha verified review, Pondicherry University is rated 4.0/5   (overall) and Value for Money. Outstation or not the university provides equal placement opportunities to students. The placements are given completely according to the skills that the student possesses. There is no discrimination based the place, language, or others. In the end, finding a good job depends on the skills that the job seeker possesses.