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2022 Best Value Colleges for Criminal Justice Studies in the Southwest Region (With Aid)

65 Ranked Colleges
6,735 Degrees Awarded
$7,100 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2019-2020, 46,252 people earned their degree in criminal justice studies, making the major the 16th most popular in the United States.

Across the Southwest region, there were 6,735 criminal justice studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 65 colleges that offer a degree in criminal justice studies. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent criminal justice studies programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the criminal justice studies program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The criminal justice studies school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid”.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Criminal Justice Studies in the Southwest Region (With Aid)

#1

South Texas College

McAllen, Texas

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend South Texas College. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid. Located in McAllen, Texas, this large public school awarded 370 diplomas to qualified ’s criminal justice studies students in 2019-2020.

South Texas College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for South Texas College is $1,174 for Southwest Region Criminal Justice Studies students with aid.

Full South Texas College Criminal Justice Studies Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid. Edinburg, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s criminal justice studies degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UT Rio Grande Valley, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $4,514 for southwest region criminal justice studies students with aid per year to attend UT Rio Grande Valley.

The low student loan default rate of 4.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Criminal Justice Studies at UT Rio Grande Valley

#3

El Paso Community College

El Paso, Texas

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend El Paso Community College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid. Located in El Paso, Texas, this large public school awarded 283 degrees to qualified ’s criminal justice studies students in 2019-2020.

El Paso Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $4,594 for Southwest Region Criminal Justice Studies students with aid per year to attend El Paso Community College.

Read full report on Criminal Justice Studies at El Paso Community College

Out of the 65 schools in the Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Collin County Community College District landed the #4 spot on the list. This large school is located in McKinney, Texas, and it awarded 78 ’s criminal justice studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Collin County Community College District not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $6,293 for Southwest Region Criminal Justice Studies students with aid per year to attend Collin County Community College District.

Read full report on Criminal Justice Studies at Collin County Community College District

#5

Rio Salado College

Tempe, Arizona

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Rio Salado College. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid. Rio Salado College is a public institution located in Tempe, Arizona. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 19 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Rio Salado College, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Rio Salado College is $9,320 for Southwest Region Criminal Justice Studies students with aid.

Full Rio Salado College Criminal Justice Studies Report

#6

Lone Star College System

The Woodlands, Texas

Lone Star College System ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in The Woodlands, Texas, and it awarded 131 ’s criminal justice studies degrees in 2019-2020.

North Harris Montgomery not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Lone Star College System is $8,016 for southwest region criminal justice studies students with aid.

Read full report on Criminal Justice Studies at Lone Star College System

#7

Pima Community College

Tucson, Arizona

With a ranking of #7, Pima Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. Pima County Community College District is a public institution located in Tucson, Arizona. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 58 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Pima County Community College District is $3,583 for Southwest Region Criminal Justice Studies students with aid.

Read more about Criminal Justice Studies at Pima County Community College District

Tarrant County College District came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Tarrant County College is a large school located in Fort Worth, Texas that handed out 46 ’s criminal justice studies degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $5,434 for Southwest Region Criminal Justice Studies students with aid per year to attend Tarrant County College District.

Full Tarrant County College Criminal Justice Studies Report

With a ranking of #10, University of North Texas at Dallas did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of North Texas at Dallas is a public institution located in Dallas, Texas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 87 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UNT Dallas not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UNT Dallas is $8,488 for southwest region criminal justice studies students with aid.

Full University of North Texas at Dallas Criminal Justice Studies Report

McLennan Community College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Waco, Texas, and it awarded 74 ’s criminal justice studies degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at MCC, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for McLennan Community College is $6,752 for southwest region criminal justice studies students with aid.

Read full report on Criminal Justice Studies at McLennan Community College

#12

Temple College

Temple, Texas

Temple College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Temple College is a public institution located in Temple, Texas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 46 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $5,300 for southwest region criminal justice studies students with aid per year to attend Temple College.

Read more about Criminal Justice Studies at Temple College

#13

New Mexico State University - Dona Ana

Las Cruces, New Mexico

New Mexico State University - Dona Ana came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Las Cruces, New Mexico is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s criminal justice studies degrees to 76 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for New Mexico State University - Dona Ana is $5,539 for southwest region criminal justice studies students with aid.

Read more about Criminal Justice Studies at NMSU Dona Ana

#14

Grayson College

Denison, Texas

Grayson College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #14. Grayson College is a public institution located in Denison, Texas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 14 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Grayson College is $7,877 for Southwest Region Criminal Justice Studies students with aid.

Read more about Criminal Justice Studies at Grayson College

#15

Laredo College

Laredo, Texas

Laredo College landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Laredo College is a public institution located in Laredo, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 31 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Laredo College is $4,222 for southwest region criminal justice studies students with aid.

Read full report on Criminal Justice Studies at Laredo College

The University of Texas at El Paso did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #16. The University of Texas at El Paso is a public institution located in El Paso, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 283 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UTEP, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UTEP is $8,920 for Southwest Region Criminal Justice Studies students with aid.

Read more about Criminal Justice Studies at The University of Texas at El Paso

#17

San Antonio College

San Antonio, Texas

San Antonio College landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. San Antonio, Texas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s criminal justice studies degrees to 12 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend San Antonio College is $5,882 for Southwest Region Criminal Justice Studies students with aid.

Read more about Criminal Justice Studies at San Antonio College

#18

Howard College

Big Spring, Texas

Howard College landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Howard County Junior College is located in Big Spring, Texas and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 26 ’s criminal justice studies degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for Howard County Junior College is $5,644 for Southwest Region Criminal Justice Studies students with aid.

Read more about Criminal Justice Studies at Howard College

The University of Texas at San Antonio came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. UTSA is a public institution located in San Antonio, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 300 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UTSA also took the #11 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $13,853 for Southwest Region Criminal Justice Studies students with aid per year to attend UTSA.

Read full report on Criminal Justice Studies at The University of Texas at San Antonio

#20

Weatherford College

Weatherford, Texas

Weatherford College landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Weatherford College is a medium-sized school located in Weatherford, Texas that handed out 13 ’s criminal justice studies degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $7,863 for southwest region criminal justice studies students with aid per year to attend Weatherford College.

Read full report on Criminal Justice Studies at Weatherford College

#21

Sam Houston State University

Huntsville, Texas

Sam Houston State University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in Huntsville, Texas, and it awarded 860 ’s criminal justice studies degrees in 2019-2020.

SHSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Sam Houston State University is $14,617 for southwest region criminal justice studies students with aid.

Read full report on Criminal Justice Studies at SHSU

Southeastern Oklahoma State University landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Southeastern Oklahoma State University is a public institution located in Durant, Oklahoma. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 27 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Southeastern Oklahoma State University is $8,237 for Southwest Region Criminal Justice Studies students with aid.

Full Southeastern Oklahoma State University Criminal Justice Studies Report

#23

MSU Texas

Wichita Falls, Texas

MSU Texas landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Wichita Falls, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s criminal justice studies degrees to 51 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for MSU Texas is $10,045 for Southwest Region Criminal Justice Studies students with aid.

Read more about Criminal Justice Studies at MSU Texas

#23

Texas Woman's University

Denton, Texas

Texas Woman’s University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This fairly large school is located in Denton, Texas, and it awarded 34 ’s criminal justice studies degrees in 2019-2020.

TWU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #25 on our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $9,617 for Southwest Region Criminal Justice Studies students with aid per year to attend TWU.

Read full report on Criminal Justice Studies at Texas Woman’s University

University of Houston - Downtown ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Houston - Downtown is a public institution located in Houston, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 245 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UH Downtown also took the #12 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UH Downtown is $6,848 for southwest region criminal justice studies students with aid.

Full UH Downtown Criminal Justice Studies Report

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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