FSU College of Criminology and Criminal Justice ranked No. 2 by Niche – Florida State University

Report on Florida State University’s College of Criminology and Criminal Justice: Rankings and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

Florida State University’s (FSU) College of Criminology and Criminal Justice has been recognized for its academic excellence, securing the No. 2 national ranking in the 2026 Niche rankings for Best Colleges for Criminal Justice for the second consecutive year. This achievement underscores the institution’s significant contributions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).

National Rankings and Recognition

The College’s consistent high performance is evidenced by multiple prestigious rankings, reflecting its leadership in the field. These accolades affirm the quality of its educational programs and the impact of its research.

• Niche 2026 Best Colleges for Criminal Justice: Ranked No. 2 nationally for the second consecutive year.
• University Magazine 2023: Ranked No. 1 nationally.
• Journal of Criminal Justice Education 2023: Faculty recognized as the most productive and influential in a quantitative assessment.

Contributions to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The mission and operations of the FSU College of Criminology and Criminal Justice are intrinsically linked to advancing global development priorities.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

The College directly supports SDG 16, which aims to promote peaceful and inclusive societies, provide access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable institutions. This is achieved through:

1. Translational Research: The College is committed to producing research that informs policy and practice, with the stated mission of reducing the suffering caused by crime. This work contributes to building more effective and just legal systems.
2. Graduate Preparedness: By preparing graduates to make meaningful societal contributions, the College strengthens the human capital of justice institutions, fostering a new generation of leaders dedicated to upholding the rule of law.
3. Policy Impact: Dean Thomas Blomberg noted the dedication to “producing research that informs policy,” a key mechanism for strengthening institutions and ensuring access to justice.

SDG 4: Quality Education

The College’s high rankings are a direct indicator of its commitment to SDG 4, ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education. The ranking methodology highlights several factors aligned with this goal:

• Rigorous analysis of academic and student life data.
• High graduation and retention rates.
• Favorable student-faculty ratios.
• Positive reviews from students and alumni.

These metrics confirm that the College provides an exceptional educational environment, fostering lifelong learning opportunities within the criminal justice field.

Ranking Methodology

The Niche rankings are based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the U.S. Department of Education and stakeholder feedback. Key factors include:

• Academic, admissions, financial, and student life data.
• Reviews from millions of students and alumni.
• Acceptance rates.
• Student-faculty ratio.
• Graduation and retention rates.
• Surveys of students in the criminal justice major.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

Explanation

The article discusses the high national ranking of Florida State University’s College of Criminology and Criminal Justice. This connects to two primary Sustainable Development Goals:

• SDG 4: Quality Education: The article is centered on the quality and excellence of a higher education institution. It highlights rankings, academic quality, teaching excellence, and student outcomes, which are all core components of SDG 4.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: The subject of the college is Criminology and Criminal Justice. Its stated mission is “reducing the pain and suffering caused by crime” and producing “research that informs policy.” This directly contributes to building effective, accountable institutions and promoting the rule of law, which are central to SDG 16.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

SDG 4: Quality Education

• Target 4.3: By 2030, ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university. The article’s focus on a top-ranked university program (“No. 2 national ranking”) directly relates to the provision of quality tertiary education.
• Target 4.4: By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills… for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship. The article states the college aims to “prepare graduates to make meaningful contributions to society,” which implies providing them with the relevant skills for employment in the criminal justice field.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere. The college’s mission of “producing translational research aimed at reducing the pain and suffering caused by crime” directly supports efforts to achieve this target.
• Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all. The study of criminology and criminal justice is fundamental to understanding and improving the rule of law. The college contributes by producing research and graduates who work within these systems.
• Target 16.a: Strengthen relevant national institutions… for building capacity… to prevent violence and combat… crime. By educating future professionals and producing “research that informs policy,” the college directly contributes to strengthening the capacity of national criminal justice institutions.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Explanation

The article mentions or implies several indicators that can measure progress towards the identified targets:

• University Rankings: The “No. 2 national ranking” by Niche and “No. 1 in 2023 by University Magazine” serve as qualitative indicators of the quality of tertiary education provided (Target 4.3).
• Educational Metrics: The article explicitly states that Niche uses “Acceptance rates, student-faculty-ratio, graduation and retention rates” in its analysis. These are direct quantitative indicators for measuring the quality and performance of higher education (Target 4.3).
• Research Productivity and Influence: The mention of “innovative research” and faculty being recognized as the “most productive and influential in their field” serves as an indicator of the institution’s capacity to generate knowledge that can strengthen institutions and inform policy to reduce crime (Targets 16.1, 16.3, 16.a).
• Graduate Preparedness: The goal to “prepare graduates to make meaningful contributions to society” implies that the employment rate and societal impact of alumni are key indicators of providing students with relevant skills for employment (Target 4.4).

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: news.fsu.edu