2027 Best Criminal Justice Studies Schools in the Southwest Region
Criminal Justice Studies programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 71 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best criminal justice studies schools.
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Best Schools for Criminal Justice Studies in the Southwest Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall criminal justice studies education in the Southwest Region.
Top Schools in Criminal Justice Studies
Texas Christian University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in criminal justice studies. Set in the city of Fort Worth, Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. There were roughly 95 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Texas Christian University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Texas Christian University earn around $34,556 in the first couple years of their career. Texas Christian University graduates carry a median of $20,429 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice studies program report for Texas Christian University
A rank of #2 makes University Of North Texas one of the top schools for criminal justice studies. Set in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a very large public institution. University Of North Texas graduates 61% of students within six years. There were roughly 279 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Texas in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $47,072 in their early career. University Of North Texas graduates carry a median of $20,538 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from University Of North Texas
The University Of Texas At Arlington is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice studies, landing the #3 spot this year. The University Of Texas At Arlington is a very large public school located in the city of Arlington. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. There were roughly 176 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Arlington in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from The University Of Texas At Arlington earn around $49,360 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,908.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at The University Of Texas At Arlington
Texas State University San Marcos is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice studies, ranking #4. Set in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public institution. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 288 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Texas State University San Marcos in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $41,939 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Texas State University San Marcos
Northern Arizona University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. Set in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public institution. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 12 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Northern Arizona University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Northern Arizona University generally make around $47,056. Students borrow a median of $21,645 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Northern Arizona University
Sam Houston State University came in at #6 for criminal justice studies this year. Sam Houston State University is a very large public school located in the town of Huntsville. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 812 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Sam Houston State University in the most recent year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Sam Houston State University earn a median of $44,668 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,218 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Sam Houston State University
Angelo State University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. Located in the city of San Angelo, Angelo State University is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 44%. Angelo State University awarded about 60 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Angelo State University earn a median of $35,955 early in their careers. Angelo State University graduates carry a median of $22,000 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice studies program report for Angelo State University
University Of Houston Downtown placed #8 among the best criminal justice studies schools. This large public university is located in the city of Houston. Roughly 33% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 261 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Houston Downtown in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $53,630 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,757 to complete this degree.
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Tarleton State University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. Tarleton State University is a large public school located in the town of Stephenville. Tarleton State University graduates 48% of students within six years. About 161 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Tarleton State University in the most recent year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Tarleton State University earn a median of $50,979 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Tarleton State University
Stephen F Austin State University landed the #10 spot for criminal justice studies this year. This large public university is located in the town of Nacogdoches. Stephen F Austin State University graduates 53% of students within six years. About 28 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Stephen F Austin State University in the most recent year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Stephen F Austin State University earn a median of $40,308 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
Get the full criminal justice studies details for Stephen F Austin State University
Mesa Community College landed the #11 spot for criminal justice studies this year. Set in the city of Mesa, Mesa Community College is a very large public institution. Mesa Community College awarded about 81 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $54,730 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,750.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Mesa Community College
Central Texas College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. Set in the suburb of Killeen, Central Texas College is a large public institution. About 100 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Central Texas College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Central Texas College generally make around $39,465. Students borrow a median of $10,521 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Central Texas College
The University Of Texas At San Antonio earned the #13 position for criminal justice studies this year. The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public school located in the city of San Antonio. About 53% of students finish within six years. The University Of Texas At San Antonio awarded about 211 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from The University Of Texas At San Antonio earn around $42,491 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,875 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at The University Of Texas At San Antonio
Chandler Gilbert Community College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. Set in the city of Chandler, Chandler Gilbert Community College is a very large public institution. Chandler Gilbert Community College awarded about 59 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice studies program make about $46,943 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,447.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Chandler Gilbert Community College
Texas Womans University came in at #15 for criminal justice studies this year. Set in the city of Denton, Texas Womans University is a large public institution. About 49% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 23 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Texas Womans University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Texas Womans University earn around $42,914 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $29,250 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Texas Womans University
Saint Edwards University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. Located in the city of Austin, Saint Edwards University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. Saint Edwards University awarded about 24 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Saint Edwards University generally make around $36,829. Students borrow a median of $24,949 to complete this degree.
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University Of Central Oklahoma landed the #17 spot for criminal justice studies this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Edmond. The six-year graduation rate is 37%. About 85 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at University Of Central Oklahoma in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from University Of Central Oklahoma generally make around $39,609. University Of Central Oklahoma graduates carry a median of $22,875 in student loans.
Get the full criminal justice studies details for University Of Central Oklahoma
Houston Baptist University earned the #18 position for criminal justice studies this year. Located in the city of Houston, Houston Baptist University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. There were roughly 16 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Houston Baptist University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Houston Baptist University generally make around $57,088. Students borrow a median of $25,601 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice studies from Houston Baptist University
Rio Salado College came in at #19 for criminal justice studies this year. Rio Salado College is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. There were roughly 21 criminal justice studies students who graduated with this degree at Rio Salado College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice studies degree from Rio Salado College earn around $51,384 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,500 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice studies program report for Rio Salado College
Tarrant County College District earned the #20 position for criminal justice studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Fort Worth. Tarrant County College District awarded about 39 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Tarrant County College District generally make around $32,315. Tarrant County College District graduates carry a median of $16,262 in student loans.
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Blinn College ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. This very large public university is located in the town of Brenham. Blinn College awarded about 39 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Blinn College earn a median of $45,980 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,230 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice studies program report for Blinn College
Laredo Community College landed the #22 spot for criminal justice studies this year. Located in the city of Laredo, Laredo Community College is a large public university. Laredo Community College awarded about 23 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Laredo Community College generally make around $48,194. Laredo Community College graduates carry a median of $6,000 in student loans.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Laredo Community College
The University Of Texas At Tyler ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice studies schools. The University Of Texas At Tyler is a large public school located in the city of Tyler. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 55 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Tyler in the most recent year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of The University Of Texas At Tyler earn a median of $36,532 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,212.
See the full criminal justice studies program report for The University Of Texas At Tyler
Lone Star College System came in at #24 for criminal justice studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of The Woodlands. About 144 criminal justice studies degrees were awarded at Lone Star College System in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Lone Star College System generally make around $37,578. Typical student debt for the program is $10,542.
Read more about the criminal justice studies program at Lone Star College System
West Texas A And M University landed the #25 spot for criminal justice studies this year. This large public university is located in the town of Canyon. About 48% of students finish within six years. West Texas A And M University awarded about 27 criminal justice studies degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of West Texas A And M University earn a median of $37,978 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,365 to complete this degree.
See the full criminal justice studies program report for West Texas A And M University
Rest of the Top 50 Criminal Justice Studies Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s criminal justice studies ranking:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 71 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.
