2027 Best Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools in the Southwest Region
Criminal Justice & Police Science programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their criminal justice & police science programs.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 59 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 Del Mar College, our #1 school for criminal justice & police science. This large public university is located in the city of Corpus Christi. There were roughly 68 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Del Mar College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Del Mar College generally make around $40,661. Typical student debt for the program is $6,250.
See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Del Mar College
Lamar Institute Of Technology came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. Lamar Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Beaumont. There were roughly 86 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Lamar Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Lamar Institute Of Technology earn around $71,733 in the first couple years of their career. Lamar Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $15,318 in student loans.
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Mesa Community College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & police science, landing the #3 spot this year. Mesa Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Mesa. There were roughly 19 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Mesa Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $54,730 in their early career. 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
Central Texas College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & police science, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Killeen, Central Texas College is a large public institution. Central Texas College awarded about 18 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Central Texas College earn a median of $39,465 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $10,521.
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Alvin Community College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice & police science, landing the #5 spot this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Alvin. Alvin Community College awarded about 42 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. Students borrow a median of $8,600 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Alvin Community College
Pima Community College placed #6 among the best criminal justice & police science schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Tucson. There were roughly 108 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Pima Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $47,820 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $7,562 to complete this degree.
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Chandler Gilbert Community College placed #7 among the best criminal justice & police science schools. Located in the city of Chandler, Chandler Gilbert Community College is a very large public university. About 24 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Chandler Gilbert Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Chandler Gilbert Community College generally make around $46,943. Typical student debt for the program is $10,447.
See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Chandler Gilbert Community College
Oklahoma State University Oklahoma City landed the #8 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Oklahoma City. About 17 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Oklahoma State University Oklahoma City in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Oklahoma State University Oklahoma City generally make around $45,580. Students borrow a median of $16,375 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Oklahoma State University Oklahoma City
Wharton County Junior College landed the #9 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the town of Wharton, Wharton County Junior College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 51 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Wharton County Junior College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Wharton County Junior College earn around $55,919 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,753.
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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 501 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Rio Salado College earn a median of $51,384 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,500 to complete this degree.
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Tarrant County College District placed #11 among 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 102 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Tarrant County College District in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $32,315 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,262.
See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Tarrant County College District
Blinn College earned the #12 position for criminal justice & police science this year. Blinn College is a very large public school located in the town of Brenham. About 63 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Blinn College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Blinn College generally make around $45,980. Students borrow a median of $14,230 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Blinn College
Houston Community College landed the #13 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Houston. There were roughly 209 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Houston Community College in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Houston Community College earn a median of $56,454 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,925 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Houston Community College
Laredo Community College placed #14 among the best criminal justice & police science schools. This large public university is located in the city of Laredo. About 20 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Laredo Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Laredo Community College generally make around $48,194. Typical student debt for the program is $6,000.
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Glendale Community College Glendale Az came in at #15 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 50 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Glendale Community College Glendale Az in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $51,483 in their early career. Glendale Community College Glendale Az graduates carry a median of $15,996 in student loans.
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Brazosport College placed #16 among the best criminal justice & police science schools. Located in the suburb of Lake Jackson, Brazosport College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 34 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Brazosport College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $32,746 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $6,625.
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San Jacinto Community College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Pasadena. San Jacinto Community College awarded about 140 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from San Jacinto Community College generally make around $38,107. San Jacinto Community College graduates carry a median of $11,376 in student loans.
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Texas A And M International University placed #18 among the best criminal justice & police science schools. Located in the city of Laredo, Texas A And M International University is a large public university. Texas A And M International University graduates 46% of students within six years. There were roughly 186 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Texas A And M International University 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. Texas A And M International University graduates carry a median of $15,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Texas A And M International University
South Plains College earned the #19 position for criminal justice & police science this year. This large public university is located in the town of Levelland. About 26 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at South Plains College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from South Plains College earn around $49,987 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $9,291 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice & police science program report for South Plains College
San Juan College landed the #20 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the rural area of Farmington. There were roughly 17 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at San Juan College 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. Typical student debt for the program is $8,768.
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Mclennan Community College ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. Mclennan Community College is a large public school located in the city of Waco. About 43 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Mclennan Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Mclennan Community College generally make around $34,468. Typical student debt for the program is $12,606.
Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at Mclennan Community College
Austin Community College District came in at #22 for criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public university. Austin Community College District awarded about 64 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $46,175 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,378.
Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at Austin Community College District
Amarillo College came in at #23 for criminal justice & police science this year. Amarillo College is a large public school located in the city of Amarillo. About 41 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Amarillo College in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Amarillo College earn a median of $42,434 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,624.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Amarillo College
Grayson College ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. Grayson College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Denison. Grayson College awarded about 47 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $42,487 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,627 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Grayson College
Central New Mexico Community College ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Albuquerque. There were roughly 41 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Central New Mexico Community College in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Central New Mexico Community College earn a median of $35,865 early in their careers. Central New Mexico Community College graduates carry a median of $10,112 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Central New Mexico Community 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 ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 59 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.
