2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools in Texas
[Criminal Justice & Police Science](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/criminal-justice-and-police-science/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong criminal justice & police science education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 42 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for criminal justice & police science students.
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2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools in Texas
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
Leading the list is South Texas College, our #1 best value for criminal justice & police science in Texas. Located in the city of McAllen, South Texas College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,920, while out-of-state students pay about $7,620. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $6,500. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of South Texas College earn a median of $37,432 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Texas A And M International University earned it the #2 place for criminal justice & police science. Texas A And M International University is a large public school located in the city of Laredo. In-state tuition and fees average $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. That is a strong return on a $15,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 44%.
College Of The Mainland came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. College Of The Mainland is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Texas City. In-state tuition and fees average $2,310, while out-of-state students pay about $4,140. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $10,928 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of College Of The Mainland earn a median of $48,704 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes Alvin Community College one of the best values for criminal justice & police science. Alvin Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Alvin. Students from in state pay about $1,906 in tuition and fees, compared with $4,402 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,600 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $67,797. Set against $8,600 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Del Mar College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Del Mar College is a large public school located in the city of Corpus Christi. 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. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Del Mar College earn a median of $40,661 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,250 median debt.
Trinity Valley Community College came in at #6 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Trinity Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Athens. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,640, compared with $5,970 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $14,750 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $32,623. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
El Paso Community College placed #7 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. El Paso Community College is a very large public school located in the city of El Paso. Students from in state pay about $3,274 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,314. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $6,084 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from El Paso Community College generally make around $25,846. Set against $6,084 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wharton County Junior College earned the #8 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the town of Wharton, Wharton County Junior College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,192, with out-of-state students paying around $5,904. Students borrow a median of $8,753 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. 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.
Grayson College placed #9 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Located in the rural area of Denison, Grayson College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,000, compared with $6,300 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,627 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. 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.
Laredo Community College placed #10 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Located in the city of Laredo, Laredo Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,300, with out-of-state students paying around $5,748. Students borrow a median of $6,000 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $48,194. That is a strong return on a $6,000 median debt.
San Antonio College earned the #11 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the city of San Antonio, San Antonio College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,412 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,952 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $13,003 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of San Antonio College earn a median of $43,712 early in their careers. Set against $13,003 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Midland College placed #12 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Midland College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Midland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,180, compared with $6,180 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $9,000 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Midland College earn a median of $43,454 early in their careers. Set against $9,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Amarillo College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Set in the city of Amarillo, Amarillo College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,136, compared with $4,704 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $16,624 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Amarillo College earn a median of $42,434 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The University Of Texas At Brownsville landed the #14 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. The University Of Texas At Brownsville is a large public school located in the city of Brownsville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,148, while out-of-state students pay about $4,948. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $8,000. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of The University Of Texas At Brownsville earn a median of $25,923 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Tarrant County College District earned the #15 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County College District is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,863, with out-of-state students paying around $8,370. Students borrow a median of $16,262 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $32,315. That is a strong return on a $16,262 median debt.
Mclennan Community College earned the #16 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the city of Waco, Mclennan Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,660, compared with $5,910 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $12,606. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Mclennan Community College earn a median of $34,468 early in their careers. Set against $12,606 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Texas College landed the #17 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Central Texas College is a large public school located in the suburb of Killeen. Students from in state pay about $3,750 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,500. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $10,521 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Central Texas College generally make around $39,465. That is a strong return on a $10,521 median debt.
Austin Community College District landed the #18 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Set in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,550, with out-of-state students paying around $10,590. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $16,378. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $46,175. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Houston Community College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Houston Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. Students from in state pay about $2,040 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,460 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,925 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Houston Community College generally make around $56,454. That is a strong return on a $13,925 median debt.
North Central Texas College placed #20 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. North Central Texas College is a large public school located in the town of Gainesville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,600, with out-of-state students paying around $5,739. Students borrow a median of $15,965 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $43,536. That is a strong return on a $15,965 median debt.
Hill College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Hill College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Hillsboro. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,862. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $12,302 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $39,212. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Temple College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Located in the city of Temple, Temple College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,000, compared with $7,524 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $11,500. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Temple College earn a median of $55,262 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,500 median debt.
South Plains College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. South Plains College is a large public school located in the town of Levelland. In-state tuition and fees average $2,733, compared with $5,157 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $9,291 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from South Plains College generally make around $49,987. Set against $9,291 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
San Jacinto Community College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. San Jacinto Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,490, with out-of-state students paying around $6,690. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $11,376. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of San Jacinto Community College earn a median of $38,107 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,376 median debt.
Southwest Texas Junior College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Set in the town of Uvalde, Southwest Texas Junior College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,646, with out-of-state students paying around $6,294. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $5,125 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $41,320. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rest of the Top 35 Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s criminal justice & police science value ranking:
More Criminal Justice & Police Science Rankings
View All Criminal Justice & Police Science Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 42 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
