2027 Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools in the Southwest Region
[Criminal Justice & Police Science](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/criminal-justice-and-police-science/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 66 schools to find the best return on investment for criminal justice & police science students.
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2027 Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools in the Southwest Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in criminal justice & police science, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools
Del Mar College earned the #1 spot for value among criminal justice & police science schools in the Southwest Region. Set in the city of Corpus Christi, Del Mar College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,500, compared with $6,050 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $6,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Del Mar College generally make around $40,661. Set against $6,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of The Mainland came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Located in the city of Texas City, College Of The Mainland is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,310, compared with $4,140 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,928 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $48,704. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
South Texas College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. South Texas College is a very large public school located in the city of McAllen. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,920, with out-of-state students paying around $7,620. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $6,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from South Texas College generally make around $37,432. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pima Community College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Pima Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,442, with out-of-state students paying around $7,758. Students borrow a median of $7,562 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $47,820. That is a strong return on a $7,562 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice & police science will find it at El Paso Community College, which ranked #5. El Paso Community College is a very large public school located in the city of El Paso. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,274, while out-of-state students pay about $5,314. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $6,084. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from El Paso Community College generally make around $25,846. That is a strong return on a $6,084 median debt.
The University Of Texas At Brownsville came in at #6 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. The University Of Texas At Brownsville is a large public school located in the city of Brownsville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,148, with out-of-state students paying around $4,948. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $8,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Brownsville generally make around $25,923. Set against $8,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Texas A And M International University came in at #7 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the city of Laredo, Texas A And M International University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,894, compared with $19,454 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $15,500 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Texas A And M International University earn a median of $38,668 early in their careers. Set against $15,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Texas A And M International University admits about 44% of applicants.
Tarrant County College District came in at #8 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Tarrant County College District is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Worth. In-state tuition and fees average $1,863, while out-of-state students pay about $8,370. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $16,262 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Tarrant County College District generally make around $32,315. That is a strong return on a $16,262 median debt.
Midland College landed the #9 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Located in the city of Midland, Midland College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,180, while out-of-state students pay about $6,180. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $9,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Midland College generally make around $43,454. That is a strong return on a $9,000 median debt.
San Antonio College earned the #10 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. San Antonio College is a very large public school located in the city of San Antonio. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,412, with out-of-state students paying around $9,952. Students borrow a median of $13,003 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $43,712. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Wharton County Junior College landed the #11 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Set in the town of Wharton, Wharton County Junior College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,192 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,904. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $8,753. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Wharton County Junior College generally make around $55,919. That is a strong return on a $8,753 median debt.
Amarillo College earned the #12 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the city of Amarillo, Amarillo College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,136, with out-of-state students paying around $4,704. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $16,624. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $42,434. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central New Mexico Community College earned the #13 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the city of Albuquerque, Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,060, while out-of-state students pay about $8,684. Students borrow a median of $10,112 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Central New Mexico Community College generally make around $35,865. That is a strong return on a $10,112 median debt.
Brazosport College earned the #14 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the suburb of Lake Jackson, Brazosport College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,388, with out-of-state students paying around $4,711. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $6,625 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Brazosport College generally make around $32,746. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mclennan Community College landed the #15 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Located in the city of Waco, Mclennan Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,660, while out-of-state students pay about $5,910. Students borrow a median of $12,606 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $34,468. Set against $12,606 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Coastal Bend College placed #16 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Located in the town of Beeville, Coastal Bend College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,916, compared with $5,226 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $14,609 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $35,086. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Houston Community College placed #17 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Houston Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,040, while out-of-state students pay about $5,460. Students borrow a median of $13,925 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $56,454. That is a strong return on a $13,925 median debt.
Laredo Community College came in at #18 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the city of Laredo, Laredo Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,300, while out-of-state students pay about $5,748. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $6,000. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $48,194. Set against $6,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
San Juan College landed the #19 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. San Juan College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Farmington. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,910, with out-of-state students paying around $5,393. Students borrow a median of $8,768 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $49,243. Set against $8,768 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Grayson College came in at #20 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the rural area of Denison, Grayson College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,000, with out-of-state students paying around $6,300. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $11,627. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Grayson College earn a median of $42,487 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,627 median debt.
Austin Community College District placed #21 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Austin Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. Students from in state pay about $2,550 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,590 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $16,378. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Austin Community College District generally make around $46,175. Set against $16,378 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Redlands Community College came in at #22 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the town of El Reno, Redlands Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,385 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,951. Students borrow a median of $14,682 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $45,166. That is a strong return on a $14,682 median debt.
Odessa College landed the #23 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Set in the city of Odessa, Odessa College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,688 in tuition and fees, compared with $4,926 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $9,087 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $47,856. That is a strong return on a $9,087 median debt.
Mohave Community College ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Located in the rural area of Kingman, Mohave Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,208, compared with $7,968 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $14,766. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Mohave Community College generally make around $54,785. Set against $14,766 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Technology Center earned the #25 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the rural area of Drumright, Central Technology Center is a small public institution. Graduates go on to earn a median of $36,351 ten years after entry.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in criminal justice & police science:
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 66 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 66 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
