2027 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in Texas
[Criminal Justice Studies](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/criminal-justice-studies/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong criminal justice studies education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 62 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value criminal justice studies schools.
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2027 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in Texas
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in criminal justice studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools
College Of The Mainland earned the #1 spot for value among criminal justice studies schools in Texas. Set in the city of Texas City, College Of The Mainland is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,310, compared with $4,140 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,928 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $48,704. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at South Texas College earned it the #2 place for criminal justice studies. Located in the city of McAllen, South Texas College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,920 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,620 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $6,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from South Texas College generally make around $37,432. Set against $6,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at El Paso Community College earned it the #3 place for criminal justice studies. Located in the city of El Paso, El Paso Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,274 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,314. Students borrow a median of $6,084 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from El Paso Community College generally make around $25,846. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice studies will find it at Texas A And M International University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Laredo, Texas A And M International University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,894 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,454 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,500 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Texas A And M International University earn a median of $38,668 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 44%.
A rank of #5 makes Lamar State College Orange one of the best values for criminal justice studies. Located in the town of Orange, Lamar State College Orange is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,832, while out-of-state students pay about $13,824. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $18,506. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Lamar State College Orange earn a median of $45,299 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,506 median debt.
El Centro College earned the #6 position for value in criminal justice studies this year. Set in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,730, while out-of-state students pay about $6,900. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $13,727. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $36,386. That is a strong return on a $13,727 median debt.
Tarrant County College District landed the #7 spot for criminal justice studies value this year. Located in the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County College District is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,863, compared with $8,370 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,262 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $32,315. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The University Of Texas At Brownsville came in at #8 for value in criminal justice studies this year. Set in the city of Brownsville, The University Of Texas At Brownsville is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,148 in tuition and fees, compared with $4,948 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $8,000. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of The University Of Texas At Brownsville earn a median of $25,923 early in their careers. Set against $8,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The University Of Texas Pan American came in at #9 for value in criminal justice studies this year. Located in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,799 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,645. Students borrow a median of $11,644 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from The University Of Texas Pan American generally make around $46,404. Set against $11,644 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%.
San Antonio College came in at #10 for value in criminal justice studies 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, while out-of-state students pay about $9,952. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $13,003. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $37,855. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mclennan Community College landed the #11 spot for criminal justice studies value this year. Located in the city of Waco, Mclennan Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,660 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,910. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $12,606 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $34,468. That is a strong return on a $12,606 median debt.
Laredo Community College placed #12 among the best values for criminal justice studies. Set in the city of Laredo, Laredo Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,300 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,748. Students borrow a median of $6,000 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Laredo Community College generally make around $48,194. That is a strong return on a $6,000 median debt.
Coastal Bend College earned the #13 position for value in criminal justice studies this year. Set in the town of Beeville, Coastal Bend College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,916, while out-of-state students pay about $5,226. Students borrow a median of $14,609 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $35,086. That is a strong return on a $14,609 median debt.
Grayson College came in at #14 for value in criminal justice studies this year. Grayson College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Denison. Students from in state pay about $3,000 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,300 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,627 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Grayson College generally make around $42,487. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Odessa College came in at #15 for value in criminal justice studies this year. Odessa College is a large public school located in the city of Odessa. In-state tuition and fees average $2,688, compared with $4,926 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $9,087 in student loans. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Odessa College earn a median of $47,856 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of North Texas At Dallas landed the #16 spot for criminal justice studies value this year. Located in the city of Dallas, University Of North Texas At Dallas is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,595, compared with $21,894 for out-of-state students. University Of North Texas At Dallas admits about 84% of applicants.
Howard College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice studies schools. Howard College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Big Spring. Students from in state pay about $2,766 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,716 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $13,278. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Howard College generally make around $33,724. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southwest Texas Junior College ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice studies schools. Southwest Texas Junior College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Uvalde. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,646, compared with $6,294 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $5,125 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Southwest Texas Junior College generally make around $41,320. Set against $5,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Alvin Community College ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice studies schools. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $4,402. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $8,600. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $67,797. That is a strong return on a $8,600 median debt.
Angelina College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice studies schools. Angelina College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Lufkin. In-state tuition and fees average $3,430, while out-of-state students pay about $6,490. Students borrow a median of $7,828 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Angelina College earn a median of $50,767 early in their careers. Set against $7,828 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Houston Victoria came in at #21 for value in criminal justice studies this year. Located in the city of Victoria, University Of Houston Victoria is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,149, compared with $16,941 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from University Of Houston Victoria generally make around $35,015. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Hill College placed #22 among the best values for criminal justice studies. Hill College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Hillsboro. In-state tuition and fees average $2,862. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $12,302. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $39,212. That is a strong return on a $12,302 median debt.
Galveston College came in at #23 for value in criminal justice studies this year. Located in the city of Galveston, Galveston College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,726, while out-of-state students pay about $6,176. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $15,183 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Galveston College generally make around $61,086. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Collin County Community College District came in at #24 for value in criminal justice studies this year. Collin County Community College District is a very large public school located in the suburb of McKinney. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,014, with out-of-state students paying around $6,064. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $9,687 in student loans. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Collin County Community College District earn a median of $28,066 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lamar University earned the #25 position for value in criminal justice studies this year. Located in the city of Beaumont, Lamar University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,905, compared with $18,745 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $51,991. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in criminal justice studies:
More Criminal Justice Studies Rankings
View All Criminal Justice Studies Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 62 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 62 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.
