Criminology: One of the Most Regret-Free Majors in the Age of AI

A recent survey by ZipRecruiter, conducted with nearly 1,500 job seekers across the United States, revealed some striking results about college major satisfaction. Fields such as Journalism, Sociology, and Liberal Arts topped the list of “most regretted majors.” Predictably, majors like Computer and Information Sciences, Engineering, Nursing, and Health-related programs ranked among the “least regretted.” But what surprised many was that Criminology stood shoulder-to-shoulder with these highly practical disciplines, securing a place near the top.

An impressive 72 percent of respondents said they would choose Criminology again if given the chance. This is remarkable, considering that Criminology has long been categorized within the humanities and social sciences—areas often stereotyped as having weaker employment outcomes. Its high level of satisfaction today reflects just how dramatically the field has evolved alongside shifts in technology and industry.

Criminology was once seen primarily as the study of criminal behavior or the social roots of crime. Today, it has transformed into a deeply interdisciplinary field that blends sociology, law, psychology, data science, and artificial intelligence. In short, the major has shifted from “understanding crime” to “preventing it, analyzing it, and designing systems to respond to it.”

This transformation is largely driven by the rapid rise of digital crime—cyberattacks, data breaches, financial fraud, and other technology-based offenses. As a result, the demand for Criminology graduates has grown rapidly. Major banks across the U.S. and Canada now actively recruit them for Anti-Money Laundering (AML) teams and financial fraud prevention units. These professionals use criminological reasoning and data-analysis skills to detect risks early and trace suspicious financial activities. Their roles often command higher salaries than traditional banking positions, with long-term demand projected to rise steadily.

Career options in the public sector are equally robust. Criminology graduates can work in policing, corrections, the court system, and border services. In the private sector, opportunities range from security consulting and insurance risk management to social research and legal service organizations. In Canada, common roles include Policy Analyst, Crime Data Analyst, and Border Services Officer, with starting salaries typically between CAD $50,000 and $70,000 and experienced professionals earning well above $80,000. Labour forecasts suggest strong growth in related occupations over the next decade.

Academically, the field offers significant pathways for further specialization. Graduate programs allow students to explore criminal psychology, law, social policy, ethics, and more. As AI becomes increasingly embedded in daily life, criminologists are taking on important roles in addressing issues of fairness, bias, inequality, and the broader social impacts of emerging technologies.

In essence, Criminology has become “a discipline that connects data and human behavior to shape safety and justice in society.” Across Canadian cities, AI-powered smart policing systems are already being used to anticipate high-risk areas, and criminologists play central roles in designing and validating these tools.

Leading universities in Canada with strong Criminology programs include the University of Toronto, Simon Fraser University, the University of Ottawa, and Wilfrid Laurier University. In the U.S., UC Irvine, Rutgers University, and Florida State University are widely recognized as top choices.

Criminology’s enduring appeal lies in its unique blend of intellectual insight and practical, data-driven problem-solving. At a time when AI, ethics, technology, and society must be navigated together, Criminology stands out as a field that is not only relevant but genuinely future-focused.

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