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Dylan
Student
West Chester, Pennsylvania
1
Question
Updated
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I am going into sophmore year of college with a Criminology degree, and I am wondering what big things I can do career wise with this degree? #Spring25
A well paying job with a criminology degree
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D.J. Benion, MBA
Federal Law Enforcement Officer
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Updated
D.J.’s Answer
You're in a great position. A Criminology degree opens a lot of doors if you’re strategic about it. Career-wise, you can definitely go into traditional law enforcement — local police, sheriff’s departments, state police, or federal agencies like the FBI, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals, or DHS. These paths usually involve first becoming a patrol officer, special agent, or investigator and then promoting into specialized roles like detective, task force officer, or federal agent.
Beyond law enforcement, you can move into criminal intelligence and analysis roles — working with fusion centers, intelligence units, private security companies, or consulting firms that support government investigations. Criminology is also a strong launchpad for victim advocacy, juvenile justice, or corrections leadership, depending on your interests.
If you’re interested in bigger moves, your degree also sets you up well for graduate programs — like law school (JD), forensic psychology (MA/PhD), or criminal justice administration (MA), which can lead to careers in prosecution, policy-making, or leadership at agencies like DOJ, FBI, or international organizations. Another major option is private sector careers: corporate security, cyber threat analysis, financial crimes investigations, background investigations, risk management, or even working for firms like Pinkerton, Gavin de Becker, or Amazon Corporate Security.
One smart move right now is to start using the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) website — www.bls.gov. It’s the official source for real-world career data: salary ranges, job growth forecasts, required education, and job descriptions. You can go to the “Occupational Outlook Handbook” section and type in jobs like “Police Officer,” “Detective,” “Criminal Investigator,” “Intelligence Analyst,” or “Security Manager.” The BLS will show you exactly what each career involves, what the expected growth is, and what skills employers are looking for. This helps you make decisions now about what certifications, internships, or extra skills to start building before graduation.
Final advice: Start building experience now — internships, volunteer work, campus security jobs, research with professors, or entry-level certifications in intelligence, investigations, or security. Your real-world experience combined with your degree will be what sets you apart by the time you graduate.
Beyond law enforcement, you can move into criminal intelligence and analysis roles — working with fusion centers, intelligence units, private security companies, or consulting firms that support government investigations. Criminology is also a strong launchpad for victim advocacy, juvenile justice, or corrections leadership, depending on your interests.
If you’re interested in bigger moves, your degree also sets you up well for graduate programs — like law school (JD), forensic psychology (MA/PhD), or criminal justice administration (MA), which can lead to careers in prosecution, policy-making, or leadership at agencies like DOJ, FBI, or international organizations. Another major option is private sector careers: corporate security, cyber threat analysis, financial crimes investigations, background investigations, risk management, or even working for firms like Pinkerton, Gavin de Becker, or Amazon Corporate Security.
One smart move right now is to start using the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) website — www.bls.gov. It’s the official source for real-world career data: salary ranges, job growth forecasts, required education, and job descriptions. You can go to the “Occupational Outlook Handbook” section and type in jobs like “Police Officer,” “Detective,” “Criminal Investigator,” “Intelligence Analyst,” or “Security Manager.” The BLS will show you exactly what each career involves, what the expected growth is, and what skills employers are looking for. This helps you make decisions now about what certifications, internships, or extra skills to start building before graduation.
Final advice: Start building experience now — internships, volunteer work, campus security jobs, research with professors, or entry-level certifications in intelligence, investigations, or security. Your real-world experience combined with your degree will be what sets you apart by the time you graduate.
Thank you very much D.J., this was great advice. I will start looking into the websites you provided.
Dylan