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2022 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice Studies in the Southwest Region

31 Ranked Colleges
2,037 Degrees Awarded
$6,900 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Criminal Justice Studies is the 16th most popular major in the country with 46,252 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

Across the Southwest region, there were 6,735 criminal justice studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 2,037 criminal justice studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,605 and $16,886 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region” ranking looked at 31 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the criminal justice studies program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Criminal Justice Studies Schools

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 for an Associate in the Southwest Region”.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for southwest region associate degree criminal justice studies students.

Top 25 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice Studies in the Southwest Region

#1

South Texas College

McAllen, Texas
#1 in overall quality

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 for an Associate in the Southwest Region. South Texas College is located in McAllen, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 370 associates’s criminal justice studies degrees to qualified students.

South Texas College also made our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #1. It costs about $1,174 for southwest region associate degree criminal justice studies students per year to attend South Texas College.

Read full report on Criminal Justice Studies at South Texas College

#2

Rio Salado College

Tempe, Arizona
#3 in overall quality

Out of the 31 schools in the Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Rio Salado College landed the #2 spot on the list. Tempe, Arizona is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s criminal justice studies degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.

Rio Salado College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Rio Salado College is $9,320 for southwest region associate degree criminal justice studies students.

Full Rio Salado College Criminal Justice Studies Report

#3

Lone Star College System

The Woodlands, Texas
#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Lone Star College System. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region. Located in The Woodlands, Texas, this large public school awarded 131 diplomas to qualified associates’s criminal justice studies students in 2019-2020.

North Harris Montgomery also made our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #2. The estimated yearly cost for Lone Star College System is $8,016 for southwest region associate degree criminal justice studies students.

Read more about Criminal Justice Studies at Lone Star College System

#4 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Collin County Community College District. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region. Collin County Community College District is a public institution located in McKinney, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 78 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region associate degree criminal justice studies students list, Collin County Community College District has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Collin County Community College District is $6,293 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Criminal Justice Studies students.

Full Collin County Community College District Criminal Justice Studies Report

#6 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend McLennan Community College. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region. Located in Waco, Texas, this medium-sized public school handed out 63 diplomas to qualified associates’s criminal justice studies students in 2019-2020.

MCC also took the #6 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend McLennan Community College is $6,752 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Criminal Justice Studies students.

Read more about Criminal Justice Studies at MCC

#6

El Paso Community College

El Paso, Texas
#7 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, El Paso Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region list. This large school is located in El Paso, Texas, and it awarded 275 associates’s criminal justice studies degrees in 2019-2020.

El Paso Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend El Paso Community College is $4,594 for southwest region associate degree criminal justice studies students.

Full El Paso Community College Criminal Justice Studies Report

#7

Tyler Junior College

Tyler, Texas
#10 in overall quality

Tyler Junior College landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in Tyler, Texas, this fairly large public school awarded 61 diplomas to qualified associates’s criminal justice studies students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region associate degree criminal justice studies students list, Tyler Junior College has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $9,277 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Criminal Justice Studies students per year to attend Tyler Junior College.

Full Tyler Junior College Criminal Justice Studies Report

#8

Weatherford College

Weatherford, Texas
#9 in overall quality

Weatherford College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #8. Weatherford College is located in Weatherford, Texas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 associates’s criminal justice studies degrees to qualified students.

Weatherford College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Weatherford College is $7,863 for southwest region associate degree criminal justice studies students.

Full Weatherford College Criminal Justice Studies Report

#9

Howard College

Big Spring, Texas
#17 in overall quality

Howard College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region list. Howard County Junior College is a public institution located in Big Spring, Texas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 26 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Howard County Junior College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Howard County Junior College is $5,644 for southwest region associate degree criminal justice studies students.

Full Howard College Criminal Justice Studies Report

#10

Blinn College

Brenham, Texas
#5 in overall quality

Blinn College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region ranking. This fairly large school is located in Brenham, Texas, and it awarded 44 associates’s criminal justice studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Blinn College also took the #5 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $15,348 for southwest region associate degree criminal justice studies students per year to attend Blinn College.

Read more about Criminal Justice Studies at Blinn College

#11

Laredo College

Laredo, Texas
#20 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, Laredo College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region list. Located in Laredo, Texas, this medium-sized public school awarded 31 degrees to qualified associates’s criminal justice studies students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region associate degree criminal justice studies students list, Laredo College has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Laredo College is $4,222 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Criminal Justice Studies students.

Read full report on Criminal Justice Studies at Laredo College

#11

Tarrant County College District

Fort Worth, Texas
#8 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, Tarrant County College District did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region list. Tarrant County College is a large public school situated in Fort Worth, Texas. It awarded 46 associates’s criminal justice studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Tarrant County College also made our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #8. It costs about $5,434 for southwest region associate degree criminal justice studies students per year to attend Tarrant County College.

Read full report on Criminal Justice Studies at Tarrant County College

#14

Grayson College

Denison, Texas
#18 in overall quality

Grayson College landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in Denison, Texas, this small public school awarded 13 diplomas to qualified associates’s criminal justice studies students in 2019-2020.

Grayson College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Grayson College is $7,877 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Criminal Justice Studies students.

Full Grayson College Criminal Justice Studies Report

#15

New Mexico State University - Dona Ana

Las Cruces, New Mexico
#14 in overall quality

New Mexico State University - Dona Ana did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #15. NMSU Dona Ana is a medium-sized school located in Las Cruces, New Mexico that handed out 76 associates’s criminal justice studies degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at NMSU Dona Ana, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend NMSU Dona Ana is $5,539 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Criminal Justice Studies students.

Read more about Criminal Justice Studies at NMSU Dona Ana

#11 in overall quality

Estrella Mountain Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #16. Estrella Mountain Community College is located in Avondale, Arizona and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 43 associates’s criminal justice studies degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our southwest region associate degree criminal justice studies students list, Estrella Mountain Community College has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Estrella Mountain Community College is $9,200 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Criminal Justice Studies students.

Full Estrella Mountain Community College Criminal Justice Studies Report

#17

Temple College

Temple, Texas
#19 in overall quality

Temple College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #17. Temple College is a small school located in Temple, Texas that handed out 23 associates’s criminal justice studies degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Temple College, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $5,300 for southwest region associate degree criminal justice studies students per year to attend Temple College.

Full Temple College Criminal Justice Studies Report

#18

Phoenix College

Phoenix, Arizona
#12 in overall quality

Phoenix College landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region ranking. Phoenix College is a medium-sized public school situated in Phoenix, Arizona. It awarded 34 associates’s criminal justice studies degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region associate degree criminal justice studies students list, Phoenix College has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Phoenix College is $8,744 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Criminal Justice Studies students.

Read full report on Criminal Justice Studies at Phoenix College

#19

Pima Community College

Tucson, Arizona
#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #19, Pima Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region list. Located in Tucson, Arizona, this fairly large public school awarded 58 diplomas to qualified associates’s criminal justice studies students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Pima County Community College District, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $3,583 for southwest region associate degree criminal justice studies students per year to attend Pima County Community College District.

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

#20

Mesa Community College

Mesa, Arizona
#21 in overall quality

Mesa Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #20. Mesa Community College is a public institution located in Mesa, Arizona. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 24 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Mesa Community College also took the #21 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Mesa Community College is $9,669 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Criminal Justice Studies students.

Read full report on Criminal Justice Studies at Mesa Community College

#21

Glendale Community College

Glendale, Arizona
#22 in overall quality

With a ranking of #21, Glendale Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region list. Glendale Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Glendale, Arizona. It awarded 17 associates’s criminal justice studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Glendale Community College also made our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #22. The yearly cost to attend Glendale Community College is $8,597 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Criminal Justice Studies students.

Read more about Criminal Justice Studies at Glendale Community College

#22

San Antonio College

San Antonio, Texas
#15 in overall quality

San Antonio College landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region ranking. San Antonio College is a fairly large school located in San Antonio, Texas that handed out 12 associates’s criminal justice studies degrees in 2019-2020.

San Antonio College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $5,882 for southwest region associate degree criminal justice studies students per year to attend San Antonio College.

Full San Antonio College Criminal Justice Studies Report

#23

Northwest Vista College

San Antonio, Texas
#23 in overall quality

Northwest Vista College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in San Antonio, Texas, this fairly large public school awarded 11 diplomas to qualified associates’s criminal justice studies students in 2019-2020.

Northwest Vista College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Northwest Vista College is $5,413 for southwest region associate degree criminal justice studies students.

Read more about Criminal Justice Studies at Northwest Vista College

#25 in overall quality

New Mexico State University - Carlsbad landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region ranking. This small school is located in Carlsbad, New Mexico, and it awarded 2 associates’s criminal justice studies degrees in 2019-2020.

NMSU Carlsbad did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #25 on our “Best Criminal Justice Studies Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for New Mexico State University - Carlsbad is $7,715 for southwest region associate degree criminal justice studies students.

Full New Mexico State University - Carlsbad Criminal Justice Studies Report

With a ranking of #25, New Mexico State University - Grants did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region list. Located in Grants, New Mexico, this small public school awarded 2 degrees to qualified associates’s criminal justice studies students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for New Mexico State University - Grants is $5,388 for southwest region associate degree criminal justice studies students.

Read full report on Criminal Justice Studies at New Mexico State University - Grants

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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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