Is criminology a good pre-law major?

Asked by: Jammie Runolfsson  |  Last update: October 2, 2025
Score: 4.1/5 (30 votes)

Prepare for Law School and Careers in Criminal Justice Criminology is one of the most appropriate majors for those planning to pursue a career handling criminal cases as a lawyer or judge.

Can I go to law school with a degree in criminology?

Criminal justice is among the top five majors for law school applicants, ahead of history, sociology, and business administration. If you choose to study criminal justice with the goal of becoming a lawyer, you'll be in good company.

What is the best major for pre-law?

Political science is a very popular pre-law major because politics is heavily interrelated with legislation. The study of political behavior, government systems, and how the judicial system works are all very useful in law school.

Is criminology a good major for lawyers?

Studying criminology is especially useful if you want to become a lawyer, as it provides you with a solid understanding of the legal system and the laws that govern it. You'll learn about the different roles in the legal profession, like judges, lawyers, and law enforcement officers.

Should I major in pre-law or criminal justice?

No one pre-law major guarantees entry into law school or ensures competent performance in law studies. Criminal justice is a good choice for students preparing for law school because it stresses breadth of knowledge and intellectual flexibility.

Criminal Justice Degree: Worth It?

15 related questions found

What major gets into law school the most?

About 80 percent of law school applicants with an arts and humanities major get accepted. Majoring in this course of study exposes you to wide-ranging coursework that law schools desire —applicants with well-rounded knowledge.

Is criminology a good major?

What are the benefits of getting a degree in criminology? A criminology degree program provides students with a broad understanding of the field while helping them build transferable soft skills. Graduates can contribute to society through various careers in the police force, criminal justice, and industrial security.

What degree do most lawyers need?

A lawyer needs a bachelor's degree and a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school. Prospective lawyers can begin by earning a four-year degree in a program that offers critical thinking skills and a broad range of professional studies to help them succeed in their careers.

Is criminology or political science better for law school?

Either major could eventually take you to law school or another kind of post-graduate education, but political science may be a slightly better regarded major by graduate schools, as your education in this major is more focused on ideas, whereas criminal justice is a slightly more practically oriented major.

Why do people want to do criminology?

Skilled individuals who choose criminology careers empower others and improve societal conditions for everyone. If you are fascinated by human behavior and have a desire to positively impact your larger community, you may be suited for a criminology career.

What major does best on LSAT?

Statistics majors had the highest median LSAT at 168 out of a possible 180, followed by math majors at 167. Biophysics and computer science majors tied for No. 3 with median scores of 165 with biomedical majors not far behind.

What GPA do you need for pre-law?

What is a good pre-law GPA? In the United States, the average median GPA of law school students entering law school across all law schools in 2021 was 3.55. However, at the 20 highest-ranked law schools, the average median GPA was 3.86.

Is pre-law a hard major?

The Major Is Not That Difficult

Even though a pre-law major can introduce you to the basic concepts that are taught in law school, the courses associated with it are not considered to be that difficult.

What is the best degree for pre law?

You may choose to major in subjects that are considered to be traditional preparation for law school, such as history, English, philosophy, political science, economics or business, or you may focus your undergraduate studies in areas as diverse as art, music, science and mathematics, computer science, engineering, ...

Is criminology a legal study?

Criminology is the study of crime and criminal behavior, informed by principles of sociology and other non-legal fields, including psychology, economics, statistics, and anthropology.

How hard is the LSAT?

This process is not only time-consuming but can be very expensive as well. So yes, the LSAT is hard, and it is designed that way. It's not so much a test that requires a student to remember random facts, but instead, it is a test that showcases a student's thought process.

Can you go to law school with a criminology degree?

Yes. Students may pursue an undergraduate degree in criminal justice as a solid educational foundation to help them prepare to apply for law school.

What is the hardest law degree to get?

The hardest law school to get into is Yale Law School, with an acceptance rate of 5.5%. Followed by: Stanford Law School: 7% acceptance rate. The University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School: 3.8% acceptance rate.

Should I take criminology to be a lawyer?

Although criminology won't boost your LSAT scores, it can give you some advantages when it comes to applying to law school. If you intern in the criminal justice system, you'll gain real-world experience that you can turn into personal recommendations for your law school application.

What is a good GPA to become a lawyer?

Obtain High GPA & LSAT Scores

According to the Law School Admission Council (LSAC), students need a GPA of at least 3.59 and an LSAT of 162 or more to get into any top 10 law schools. However, that is the bare minimum, and you should aim higher if you want to increase your chances of getting into the top 3.

What type of lawyer makes the most money?

Patent Attorney Salary

Patent attorneys are the highest-paid type of lawyers, with an average salary of $185,351, ranging from $119,88 to $285,530. Various factors contribute to a patent attorney's average salary, including experience, firm, location, and subject matter expertise.

What college do most lawyers go to?

15 top law schools
  • University of Virginia. ...
  • Northwestern University. ...
  • University of California, Berkeley. ...
  • University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. ...
  • Duke University. ...
  • Cornell University. ...
  • Georgetown University. ...
  • University of California, Los Angeles.

What major is closest to criminology?

Here are some options you might want to consider:
  • Forensic science major. ...
  • Police science major. ...
  • Pre-law and legal major. ...
  • Criminal justice major. ...
  • Sociology major. ...
  • Criminal psychology major. ...
  • Law enforcement administration major. ...
  • Rehabilitation services major. A rehabilitation major includes studying aspects of sociology.

Why do people choose criminology?

Criminology studies the “why” behind crimes. It examines the sociological and psychological factors that compel people to break the law. Students who choose this degree path will also study crime and society, how to analyze crime and the theory behind crime and punishment.

What field of criminology makes the most money?

The top four highest-paying criminal justice careers are federal judges, lawyers specializing in corporate law, forensic psychologists, and a detective or criminal investigators. These positions require advanced education and training, but the rewards are significant.