This article presents a list of the top 5 criminal psychology programs that can help students earn a psychology career quickly in 2025. Give it a read to find out if the program is well-aligned with your personal preferences!
Top 5 Criminal Psychology Programs – The Fast Track to a Thrilling Career in 2025
Criminal psychology is a fascinating field that blends psychology and law to understand criminal behaviour, motivations, and the psychological impact of crime. As crime patterns evolve, so does the need for skilled professionals who can analyse criminal minds and contribute to law enforcement and justice systems.
According to the National Careers in the UK, the average salary of a criminal psychologist starts from £35,000 and goes up to £57,000 annually. Being a rewarding field, it is considered the 3rd most popular major in college as it offers great potential for personal and professional growth to students.
To become a successful criminal psychologist, students must be enrolled on an accredited program and apply their understanding in practical settings. In this article, we‘ll explore the five best criminal psychology programs in 2025, helping you find the best pathway to an exciting and impactful career.
Let’s dive into the details!
A List of 5 Best Criminal Psychology Programs That Offer Rewarding Careers in 2025
To become a licensed criminal psychologist, students must complete a graduate program, which includes coursework, practicums, internships, and fieldwork. While gaining knowledge and practical experience is a crucial part of the journey, many students struggle with the demanding task of dissertation writing. A dedicated dissertation writing service plays a significant role in helping students produce well-researched and high-quality papers. With expert guidance in research, writing, and editing, aspiring psychologists can navigate their academic requirements more effectively.
The academic programs for criminal psychology that offer thrilling and promising careers to students in 2025 are the following:
1. BS Criminal Justice at Louisiana State University
At this university, students can study an online BS program with a special focus on criminal justice. The program has a special concentration on criminal psychology and it delivers a comprehensive understanding of how psychology can apply to the criminal justice system. The program requires students to fulfil 120 credit hours in the given course. By the end of this course, students can work as licensed criminal psychologists in any of the renowned public institutions.
Core Coursework Subjects
- Social psychology
- Research methods in criminology and criminal justice
- Developmental psychology
- Abnormal psychology
- Ethical leadership in criminal justice
Feess Details
The cost of each credit hour at this university is $325 and the applicable fees is charged separately.
2. BS Criminal Psychology Degree in Liberty University
This university offers a BS degree in criminal psychology to a student that enhances their skills in human development and behaviour. This degree provides training to students on the core skills students need to strengthen their ability to understand the thought processes and intentions of human minds. The program has been designed to be completed in less than 4 years and students are expected to submit a definitive dissertation in criminal psychology before graduating from Liberty University.
Core Coursework Subjects
- Psychology of criminal behaviour
- Social psychology
- Behavioural modification
- Crisis intervention
- Abnormal psychology
Feess Details
The students are eligible to transfer up to 75% out of their 120 credits for graduation. It means that they can complete this degree quickly. For full-time students, the hourly cost is $390 and for part-time students, it is $455, as reported by Learn.org.
3. MSc in Criminology at Oxford University
This institute is known as the best research centre in the world known for its strong focus on criminal research and innovative research methods. As an MSc student at Oxford University, students can get an opportunity to sign up for challenging and interesting programs hosted by the Criminology department. The program is highly competitive and it helps students polish their skills greatly in the department of practice and justice policy.
Core Coursework Subjects
- Criminological theories and criminal justice
- Research design and data collection
- Communication skills for criminologists
- Research design and data collection
- Transitional justice
Fees Details
The annual fee for the graduate criminal psychology program at the University of Oxford for home students is £10,115 and for overseas students, it is £16,100.
4. BS Forensic Psychology at Grand Canyon University
At Grand Canyon University, students can earn a BS in psychology with a specialisation in forensic psychology through distance education. Their program offers deep insight into the workings of criminal behaviour using psychological theories through courses that are seven or eight weeks long. Students can focus on learning the science behind crime when pursuing this degree. They can also learn about how legal psychology and the mindset behind crimes are related.
Core Coursework Subjects
- Criminal law
- Abnormal Psychology
- Introduction to Forensic Technology
- General Psychology
- Criminal behaviour and Victimology
Fees Details
The cost per credit hour here is $485 and students need to complete a total of 120 credits for their graduation.
5. Forensic Psychology Degree at Bay Path University
This degree trains undergraduate women to apply their knowledge of human behaviour and psychology to criminal law, justice and mental health. Students can either attend online classes or go to the university campus to attend physical classes. Usually, in this program, students learn about the motivations behind criminal behaviour and the different needs of incarcerated individuals. It offers a 20% discount on all graduate degrees, as per Psychology.org.
Core Coursework Components
- Mental health psychology
- Psychological theories
- Applied cognitive psychology
- Criminal justice
- Scene examination and management
Fees Details
The acceptance rate of the university is 76% and the average undergrad tuition fee is around $35,781. It offers adequate training to students for developing good research skills and applying them to practice in professional settings.
Is Criminal Psychology a Good Major?
At the undergraduate level, criminal psychology is not a standalone major. As per Research, a degree in criminal psychology can help individuals gain experience in understanding human behaviour and the factors that have an impact on criminal actions. Hence, studying criminal psychology can be a good choice if you want to pursue careers related to the mental health evaluation of offenders and the legal system. If you manage to pass the course with flying colours, you will be able to get recruited in a reputable institute for practising your skills.
Is Criminal Psychology Risky?
Criminal psychology can be quite risky in some situations but it is not always dangerous and the risk level depends on the work done by the criminal psychologists. As per the International Career Institute, while not every criminal psychologist is exposed to graphic descriptions and brutal crime scenes, most of them are exposed to such scenes quite often. One cannot work in this field without getting immediate training. During the training period, criminal psychologists are trained enough to deal with different crime situations.
What Is the Highest Paying Job in Criminal Psychology?
According to Indeed, crime scene technicians are one of the highly paid job holders in the field of criminal psychology in the UK. Their average national salary is around £29,329 per year. Usually, these people are some of the very first responders to the crime scenes and they collect physical pieces of evidence from the places where crime has happened or other crime scenes. They also analyse the evidence and present their findings to their colleagues. The work of such people is alongside forensic scientists and other crime scene investigators.
Is Criminology With Psychology a Good Degree?
If you are interested in understanding the psychological factors behind criminal behaviour, studying criminology with psychology can be a great idea. It provides a strong foundation for careers in the criminal justice system. According to the Western Sydney University Online, degrees in criminology and psychology often come together to form a dynamic relationship that sheds light on the intricacies of human behaviour and its connection with criminal activities.
By combining these two fields, students can develop a keen understanding of all the factors that influence crime in the minds of convicted people. Students can also work on developing several prevention strategies and help the victims effectively pursue justice.
Conclusion
We have explored the five best criminal psychology programs that offer rewarding careers in the UK in 2025. When considering criminal psychology programs, the most important factor to consider is the accreditation of schools. The programs carrying value usually have the accreditation by the American Psychological Association (APA). It ensures that the program can meet the standards set by the APA.
Students pursuing criminal psychology courses often face difficulties in completing their papers before the deadline due to time restraints and complex concepts. They can seek support from the custom dissertation writing agencies to assist them in finishing papers on time. These companies are home to vetted experts who can fulfil the requirements of research work carefully.
Criminal psychologists work in collaboration with many justice professionals. By studying through these accredited programs for criminal psychology, students can ensure that their skills and knowledge are optimum for application to the real world.
Author Bio
Lydia Jones has earned her Master’s degree in Criminal Psychology from Boston University. She is a serial offender expert and victim advocate who now works as a certified dissertation writer at a professional academic help company. She has helped over 500+ students finish their criminal psychology degree and improve their professional acumen. When not working, Lydia likes to watch old crime documentaries and thrilling crime shows.
