2027 Best Criminal Justice Schools in Texas
Criminal Justice degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their criminal justice programs.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 20 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for criminal justice students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Criminal Justice in Texas
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall criminal justice education in Texas.
Top Schools in Criminal Justice
Texas State University San Marcos is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in criminal justice. Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public school located in the city of San Marcos. Texas State University San Marcos graduates 55% of students within six years. Texas State University San Marcos awarded about 24 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Texas State University San Marcos earn a median of $41,939 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
Read more about the criminal justice program at Texas State University San Marcos
Students looking for a strong criminal justice program will find one at Sam Houston State University, which ranked #2. Set in the town of Huntsville, Sam Houston State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 29 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Sam Houston State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Sam Houston State University generally make around $44,668. Typical student debt for the program is $23,218.
Read more about the criminal justice program at Sam Houston State University
Wayland Baptist University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice, ranking #3. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Plainview. Roughly 19% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 73 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Wayland Baptist University in the most recent year. Criminal Justice graduates of Wayland Baptist University earn a median of $53,038 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
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Students looking for a strong criminal justice program will find one at Abilene Christian University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Abilene, Abilene Christian University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 59% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 15 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Abilene Christian University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $56,463 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,772 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Abilene Christian University
Tarleton State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice, ranking #5. Located in the town of Stephenville, Tarleton State University is a large public university. Tarleton State University graduates 48% of students within six years. There were roughly 29 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Tarleton State University in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice 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 from Tarleton State University
The University Of Texas Pan American ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice schools. Located in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public university. The University Of Texas Pan American graduates 51% of students within six years. The University Of Texas Pan American awarded about 480 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from The University Of Texas Pan American earn around $35,314 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,644.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from The University Of Texas Pan American
The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin placed #7 among the best criminal justice schools. Located in the city of Odessa, The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 40% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 13 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $60,503 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,052.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin
Texas A And M International University came in at #8 for criminal justice this year. Texas A And M International University is a large public school located in the city of Laredo. The six-year graduation rate is 46%. About 71 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Texas A And M International University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Texas A And M International University generally make around $38,668. Texas A And M International University graduates carry a median of $15,500 in student loans.
Get the full criminal justice details for Texas A And M International University
Texas A And M University Central Texas landed the #9 spot for criminal justice this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the rural area of Killeen. There were roughly 43 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Texas A And M University Central Texas in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $45,976 in their early career. Texas A And M University Central Texas graduates carry a median of $24,750 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from Texas A And M University Central Texas
South Plains College landed the #10 spot for criminal justice this year. South Plains College is a large public school located in the town of Levelland. South Plains College awarded about 31 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from South Plains College earn around $49,987 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,291.
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Amarillo College earned the #11 position for criminal justice this year. Located in the city of Amarillo, Amarillo College is a large public university. Amarillo College awarded about 42 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Amarillo College earn a median of $42,434 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,624.
Read more about the criminal justice program at Amarillo College
East Texas Baptist University placed #12 among the best criminal justice schools. Located in the town of Marshall, East Texas Baptist University is a small private not-for-profit university. About 47% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 15 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at East Texas Baptist University in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of East Texas Baptist University earn a median of $34,506 early in their careers. East Texas Baptist University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from East Texas Baptist University
University Of The Incarnate Word ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice schools. Located in the city of San Antonio, University Of The Incarnate Word is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. About 11 criminal justice degrees were awarded at University Of The Incarnate Word in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from University Of The Incarnate Word earn around $32,771 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $28,901.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from University Of The Incarnate Word
St Marys University earned the #14 position for criminal justice this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of San Antonio. About 59% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 20 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at St Marys University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from St Marys University earn around $30,237 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminal justice from St Marys University
Texas Southern University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best criminal justice schools. Located in the city of Houston, Texas Southern University is a moderately-sized public university. About 22% of students finish within six years. Texas Southern University awarded about 105 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of Texas Southern University earn a median of $29,763 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $36,250.
See the full criminal justice program report for Texas Southern University
Huston Tillotson University landed the #16 spot for criminal justice this year. Located in the city of Austin, Huston Tillotson University is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 34% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 14 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Huston Tillotson University in the most recent data year. Students borrow a median of $47,874 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice program at Huston Tillotson University
Lubbock Christian University placed #17 among the best criminal justice schools. Lubbock Christian University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lubbock. Roughly 51% of students complete a degree within six years here. Lubbock Christian University awarded about 13 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Lubbock Christian University earn around $49,072 in the first couple years of their career. Lubbock Christian University graduates carry a median of $28,337 in student loans.
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Strayer University Texas came in at #18 for criminal justice this year. This mid-sized private for-profit university is located in the suburb of Farmers Branch. Strayer University Texas graduates 25% of students within six years. Strayer University Texas awarded about 38 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Strayer University Texas earn around $43,405 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $56,937.
See the full criminal justice program report for Strayer University Texas
Southwestern Assemblies Of God University placed #19 among the best criminal justice schools. Set in the suburb of Waxahachie, Southwestern Assemblies Of God University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 36% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 12 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Southwestern Assemblies Of God University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Southwestern Assemblies Of God University generally make around $35,708. Students borrow a median of $28,248 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminal justice program at Southwestern Assemblies Of God University
Texas College landed the #20 spot for criminal justice this year. Located in the city of Tyler, Texas College is a small private not-for-profit university. Texas College graduates 14% of students within six years. About 10 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Texas College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Texas College generally make around $34,386. Texas College graduates carry a median of $39,423 in student loans.
See the full criminal justice program report for Texas College
More Criminal Justice Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 20 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.