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

62 Ranked Colleges
3,711 Degrees Awarded
$7,500 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Criminal Justice 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. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region” ranking.

Criminal Justice & Corrections is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 6th of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 113,581 degrees were awarded to students with this major. In 2017-2018, criminal justice and corrections graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $31,952 and had an average of $24,936 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Southwest region, there were 16,347 criminal justice and corrections graduates with average earnings and debt of $30,942 and $25,383 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 3,711 criminal justice and corrections graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,605 and $16,886 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region” ranking analyzed 62 colleges that offered a degree in criminal justice and corrections. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent criminal justice and corrections 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 and corrections program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. 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 Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region

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

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

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Phoenix - Arizona. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region list. University of Phoenix - Arizona is located in Tempe, Arizona and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 487 associates’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

UOPX - Arizona also took the #1 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $12,944 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Criminal Justice students per year to attend University of Phoenix - Arizona.

Full University of Phoenix - Arizona Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#2

South Texas College

McAllen, Texas

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend South Texas College. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region list. McAllen, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s criminal justice degrees to 383 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at South Texas College, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend South Texas College is $1,174 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Criminal Justice students.

Full South Texas College Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#3

South Plains College

Levelland, Texas

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend South Plains College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region. Levelland, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s criminal justice degrees to 52 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at South Plains College, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend South Plains College is $7,600 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Criminal Justice students.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at South Plains College

#4

Amarillo College

Amarillo, Texas

Out of the 62 schools in the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Amarillo College landed the #4 spot on the list. Amarillo College is a medium-sized public school situated in Amarillo, Texas. It awarded 57 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region associate degree criminal justice students list, Amarillo College has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $5,578 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Criminal Justice students per year to attend Amarillo College.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Amarillo College

#5

Rio Salado College

Tempe, Arizona

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Rio Salado College. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region list. Rio Salado College is a public institution located in Tempe, Arizona. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 109 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Rio Salado College, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Rio Salado College is $9,320 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Criminal Justice students.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Rio Salado College

#6

Lone Star College System

The Woodlands, Texas

Lone Star College System landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region ranking. The Woodlands, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s criminal justice degrees to 131 students in 2019-2020.

North Harris Montgomery not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $8,016 for southwest region associate degree criminal justice students per year to attend Lone Star College System.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at North Harris Montgomery

Collin County Community College District did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #7. McKinney, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s criminal justice degrees to 78 students in 2019-2020.

Collin County Community College District also made our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #8. It costs about $6,293 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Criminal Justice students per year to attend Collin County Community College District.

Full Collin County Community College District Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#8

Del Mar College

Corpus Christi, Texas

Del Mar College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region ranking. This fairly large school is located in Corpus Christi, Texas, and it awarded 46 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

DMC also made our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #10. It costs about $5,738 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Criminal Justice students per year to attend Del Mar College.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at DMC

McLennan Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #9. McLennan Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Waco, Texas. It awarded 69 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

MCC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for McLennan Community College is $6,752 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Criminal Justice students.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at McLennan Community College

#10

Redlands Community College

El Reno, Oklahoma

With a ranking of #10, Redlands Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region list. Redlands Community College is located in El Reno, Oklahoma and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 20 associates’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

Redlands Community College also took the #12 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Redlands Community College is $5,538 for southwest region associate degree criminal justice students.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Redlands Community College

#11

El Paso Community College

El Paso, Texas

El Paso Community College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region ranking. El Paso, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s criminal justice degrees to 275 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region associate degree criminal justice students list, El Paso Community College has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for El Paso Community College is $4,594 for southwest region associate degree criminal justice students.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at El Paso Community College

#12

Tyler Junior College

Tyler, Texas

With a ranking of #12, Tyler Junior College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region list. Tyler Junior College is a public institution located in Tyler, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 61 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Tyler Junior College also took the #19 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Tyler Junior College is $9,277 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Criminal Justice students.

Full Tyler Junior College Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#13

Weatherford College

Weatherford, Texas

Weatherford College landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region ranking. Weatherford College is a public institution located in Weatherford, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 4 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Weatherford College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections 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 students.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Weatherford College

#14

Northern Oklahoma College

Tonkawa, Oklahoma

Northern Oklahoma College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region ranking. Northern Oklahoma College is a small school located in Tonkawa, Oklahoma that handed out 34 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Northern Oklahoma College also made our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #17. The yearly cost to attend Northern Oklahoma College is $7,474 for southwest region associate degree criminal justice students.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Northern Oklahoma College

#15

Howard College

Big Spring, Texas

With a ranking of #15, Howard College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region list. Located in Big Spring, Texas, this small public school handed out 26 degrees to qualified associates’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Howard County Junior College is $5,644 for southwest region associate degree criminal justice students.

Full Howard County Junior College Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

American InterContinental University - Online came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region ranking. This fairly large school is located in Schaumburg, Illinois, and it awarded 171 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at AIU Online, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend American InterContinental University - Online is $12,585 for southwest region associate degree criminal justice students.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at American InterContinental University - Online

#16

Navarro College

Corsicana, Texas
#20 in overall quality

Navarro College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region ranking. Navarro College is a public institution located in Corsicana, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 40 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Navarro College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Navarro College is $14,349 for southwest region associate degree criminal justice students.

Full Navarro College Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#18

Odessa College

Odessa, Texas

Odessa College landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region ranking. Odessa College is a medium-sized public school situated in Odessa, Texas. It awarded 41 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $5,963 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Criminal Justice students per year to attend Odessa College.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Odessa College

#19

Blinn College

Brenham, Texas

Blinn College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #19. Blinn College is a fairly large public school situated in Brenham, Texas. It awarded 44 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Blinn College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Blinn College is $15,348 for southwest region associate degree criminal justice students.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Blinn College

#20

Laredo College

Laredo, Texas

With a ranking of #20, Laredo College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region list. Laredo College is a medium-sized public school situated in Laredo, Texas. It awarded 31 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Laredo College is $4,222 for southwest region associate degree criminal justice students.

Full Laredo College Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#20

Tarrant County College District

Fort Worth, Texas

Tarrant County College District came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region ranking. Tarrant County College District is a large public school situated in Fort Worth, Texas. It awarded 46 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Tarrant County College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $5,434 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Criminal Justice students per year to attend Tarrant County College.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Tarrant County College District

#23

Grayson College

Denison, Texas

Grayson College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region list. Grayson College is a small public school situated in Denison, Texas. It awarded 13 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Grayson College is $7,877 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Criminal Justice students.

Full Grayson College Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

Austin Community College District landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region ranking. Austin, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s criminal justice degrees to 114 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region associate degree criminal justice students list, Austin Community College District has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $6,861 for southwest region associate degree criminal justice students per year to attend Austin Community College District.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Austin Community College District

#25

New Mexico State University - Dona Ana

Las Cruces, New Mexico

New Mexico State University - Dona Ana came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region ranking. New Mexico State University - Dona Ana is a public institution located in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 76 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend New Mexico State University - Dona Ana is $5,539 for southwest region associate degree criminal justice students.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at NMSU Dona Ana

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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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