2026 Best Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools in the Southwest Region
Criminal Justice & Police Science is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 92 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for criminal justice & police science students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Criminal Justice & Police Science in the Southwest Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall criminal justice & police science education in the Southwest Region.
Top Schools in Criminal Justice & Police Science
Leading the list is Mesa Community College, our #1 school for criminal justice & police science. Located in the city of Mesa, Mesa Community College is a very large public university. Mesa Community College awarded about 17 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Mesa Community College earn a median of $54,730 early in their careers. Mesa Community College graduates carry a median of $13,750 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Mesa Community College
Del Mar College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & police science, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Corpus Christi, Del Mar College is a large public university. There were roughly 74 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Del Mar College in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Del Mar College earn a median of $40,661 early in their careers. Del Mar College graduates carry a median of $6,250 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Del Mar College
Lamar Institute Of Technology is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice & police science, ranking #3. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Beaumont. Lamar Institute Of Technology awarded about 74 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $71,733 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,318.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Lamar Institute Of Technology
A rank of #4 makes Chandler Gilbert Community College one of the top schools for criminal justice & police science. Located in the city of Chandler, Chandler Gilbert Community College is a large public university. Chandler Gilbert Community College awarded about 60 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Chandler Gilbert Community College generally make around $46,943. Students borrow a median of $10,447 to complete this degree.
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Central Texas College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice & police science, ranking #5. Set in the suburb of Killeen, Central Texas College is a large public institution. There were roughly 34 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Central Texas College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Central Texas College earn around $39,465 in the first couple years of their career. Central Texas College graduates carry a median of $10,521 in student loans.
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Laredo Community College landed the #6 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the city of Laredo, Laredo Community College is a large public university. About 35 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Laredo Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $48,194 in their early career. Laredo Community College graduates carry a median of $6,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Laredo Community College
Pima Community College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. Set in the city of Tucson, Pima Community College is a very large public institution. Pima Community College awarded about 161 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Pima Community College earn around $47,820 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $7,562.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Pima Community College
Oklahoma State University Oklahoma City ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Oklahoma City. There were roughly 44 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Oklahoma State University Oklahoma City in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Oklahoma State University Oklahoma City earn around $45,580 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,375 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Oklahoma State University Oklahoma City
Alvin Community College came in at #9 for criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the suburb of Alvin, Alvin Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Alvin Community College awarded about 34 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Alvin Community College generally make around $67,797. Alvin Community College graduates carry a median of $8,600 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Alvin Community College
Rio Salado College came in at #10 for criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the city of Tempe, Rio Salado College is a very large public institution. Rio Salado College awarded about 453 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Rio Salado College earn around $51,384 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,500.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Rio Salado College
San Jacinto Community College earned the #11 position for criminal justice & police science this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Pasadena. About 159 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at San Jacinto Community College in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of San Jacinto Community College earn a median of $38,107 early in their careers. San Jacinto Community College graduates carry a median of $11,376 in student loans.
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Blinn College earned the #12 position for criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the town of Brenham, Blinn College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 37 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Blinn College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Blinn College generally make around $45,980. Typical student debt for the program is $14,230.
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Glendale Community College Glendale Az came in at #13 for criminal justice & police science this year. Glendale Community College Glendale Az is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glendale. There were roughly 45 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Glendale Community College Glendale Az in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Glendale Community College Glendale Az earn around $51,483 in the first couple years of their career. Glendale Community College Glendale Az graduates carry a median of $15,996 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Glendale Community College Glendale Az
Wharton County Junior College landed the #14 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. Wharton County Junior College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Wharton. There were roughly 16 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Wharton County Junior College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $55,919 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $8,753 to complete this degree.
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Texas A And M International University came in at #15 for criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the city of Laredo, Texas A And M International University is a large public university. About 46% of students finish within six years. Texas A And M International University awarded about 166 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Texas A And M International University earn around $38,668 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,500 to complete this degree.
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Houston Community College earned the #16 position for criminal justice & police science this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Houston. Houston Community College awarded about 88 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $56,454 in their early career. Houston Community College graduates carry a median of $13,925 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Houston Community College
Amarillo College earned the #17 position for criminal justice & police science this year. Amarillo College is a large public school located in the city of Amarillo. Amarillo College awarded about 29 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Amarillo College earn a median of $42,434 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,624 to complete this degree.
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Mclennan Community College earned the #18 position for criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the city of Waco, Mclennan Community College is a large public institution. There were roughly 35 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Mclennan Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $34,468 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,606.
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Austin Community College District came in at #19 for criminal justice & police science this year. Austin Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. About 57 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Austin Community College District in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Austin Community College District earn a median of $46,175 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,378.
Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at Austin Community College District
Temple College landed the #20 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the city of Temple, Temple College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 38 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Temple College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $55,262 in their early career. Temple College graduates carry a median of $11,500 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at Temple College
Odessa College earned the #21 position for criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the city of Odessa, Odessa College is a large public institution. There were roughly 100 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Odessa College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $47,856 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $9,087 to complete this degree.
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Grand Canyon University came in at #22 for criminal justice & police science this year. This very large private for-profit university is located in the city of Phoenix. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. Grand Canyon University awarded about 298 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $45,737 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,048 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Grand Canyon University
Central New Mexico Community College earned the #23 position for criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the city of Albuquerque, Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public university. Central New Mexico Community College awarded about 39 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $35,865 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $10,112 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Central New Mexico Community College
Tarrant County College District ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. Tarrant County College District is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Worth. About 16 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Tarrant County College District in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Tarrant County College District earn a median of $32,315 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,262.
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San Juan College came in at #25 for criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the rural area of Farmington, San Juan College is a moderately-sized public university. San Juan College awarded about 23 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of San Juan College earn a median of $49,243 early in their careers. San Juan College graduates carry a median of $8,768 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from San Juan College
Rest of the Top 50 Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools
These schools also placed among the best for criminal justice & police science this year:
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 92 schools evaluated.
- 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.
