Transfer and nontransfer students had lower grade point averages in the social science approach to criminology at the University of Northern Iowa than did transfer and nontransfer students majoring in criminal justice at Northern Arizona University with its vocational orientation. No major differences emerged in the major grade point averages of the two types of students at Northern Arizona University. Support emerges for the belief that individuals who transfer from 2- year schools which offer criminal justice courses with an emphasis on vocational training perform better at a university delivering a more traditional approach to criminology or criminal justice education than an institution offering a more liberal arts criminology or criminal justice program. Several factors affect this relationship: the number of courses a student takes within the major, pretransfer exposure to courses reflecting a social science approach in criminal justice, and a prior good performance in the 2-year program. 4 notes, 4 tables, 29 references, and 1 appendix