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2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region

25 Ranked Colleges
961 Degrees Awarded
$16,400 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master's in the Southwest Region

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region” ranking - to help you make that decision.

With 113,581 degrees handed out in 2019-2020, criminal justice and corrections is the 6th most popular major in the United States. 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 master’s degree level specifically, there were 961 criminal justice and corrections graduates with average earnings and debt of $53,078 and $37,227 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region” ranking looked at 25 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in criminal justice and corrections. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality criminal justice and corrections programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the criminal justice and corrections program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice & Corrections in the Southwest Region

Out of the 25 schools in the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Arizona State University - Skysong landed the #1 spot on the list. Arizona State University - Skysong is a large school located in Scottsdale, Arizona that handed out 200 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at ASU - Skysong, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at ASU - Skysong are $6,724.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at ASU - Skysong

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Phoenix - Arizona. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region. UOPX - Arizona is a large school located in Tempe, Arizona that handed out 148 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region master’s degree criminal justice students list, UOPX - Arizona has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Phoenix - Arizona are $17,096.

Full UOPX - Arizona Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#3

Sam Houston State University

Huntsville, Texas

Out of the 25 schools in the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Sam Houston State University landed the #3 spot on the list. Sam Houston State University is a large school located in Huntsville, Texas that handed out 116 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

SHSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at SHSU are $15,704.

Full SHSU Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#4

Grand Canyon University

Phoenix, Arizona

Out of the 25 schools in the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Grand Canyon University landed the #4 spot on the list. This large school is located in Phoenix, Arizona, and it awarded 93 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Grand Canyon University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Grand Canyon University are $11,436, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Grand Canyon University Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#5

Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, Texas
#8 in overall quality

Out of the 25 schools in the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Wayland Baptist University landed the #5 spot on the list. Wayland Baptist University is located in Plainview, Texas and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 15 masters’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

Wayland Baptist University also took the #8 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Wayland Baptist University are $14,710, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Wayland Baptist University

University of Houston - Downtown came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region ranking. UH Downtown is a public institution located in Houston, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 39 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UH Downtown did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Houston - Downtown are $15,739.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at UH Downtown

#7

Texas State University

San Marcos, Texas
#6 in overall quality

Texas State University landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region ranking. San Marcos, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s criminal justice degrees to 17 students in 2019-2020.

Texas State also made our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #6. Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas State University are $17,040, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Texas State

#8

Northeastern State University

Tahlequah, Oklahoma

Northeastern State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #8. Tahlequah, Oklahoma is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s criminal justice degrees to 19 students in 2019-2020.

NSU also made our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #19. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northeastern State University are $10,600, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at NSU

#9 in overall quality

University of Central Oklahoma did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #9. UCO is a fairly large school located in Edmond, Oklahoma that handed out 5 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCO, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCO are $17,913, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at University of Central Oklahoma

#10

MSU Texas

Wichita Falls, Texas
#22 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, MSU Texas did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region list. This medium-sized school is located in Wichita Falls, Texas, and it awarded 7 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

MSU Texas also made our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #22. Average graduate tuition and fees at MSU Texas are $7,935, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at MSU Texas

#11

Tarleton State University

Stephenville, Texas

Tarleton State University landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in Stephenville, Texas, this fairly large public school handed out 32 diplomas to qualified masters’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Tarleton, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Tarleton State University are $15,485, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Tarleton State University

#15 in overall quality

Texas A & M University - Central Texas landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region ranking. Texas A & M University - Central Texas is a small public school situated in Killeen, Texas. It awarded 7 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Texas A & M University - Central Texas, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas A & M University - Central Texas are $13,561, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Texas A & M University - Central Texas Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#13

University of North Texas

Denton, Texas

University of North Texas landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region ranking. University of North Texas is a large public school situated in Denton, Texas. It awarded 17 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

UNT not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of North Texas are $15,618, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at University of North Texas

#14

Lamar University

Beaumont, Texas

Lamar University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region list. Lamar University is a public institution located in Beaumont, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 86 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Lamar University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Lamar University are $15,699, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Lamar University

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #15. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is a large public school situated in Edinburg, Texas. It awarded 11 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region master’s degree criminal justice students list, UT Rio Grande Valley has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley are $15,151, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UT Rio Grande Valley Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#17 in overall quality

Texas A&M International University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region list. Texas A&M International University is a public institution located in Laredo, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 23 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas A&M International University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Texas A&M International University are $15,106.

Full Texas A&M International University Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#17

Angelo State University

San Angelo, Texas
#18 in overall quality

Angelo State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #17. This fairly large school is located in San Angelo, Texas, and it awarded 5 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Angelo State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Angelo State University are $14,396.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Angelo State

#21 in overall quality

With a ranking of #18, University of North Texas at Dallas did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region list. UNT Dallas is a small school located in Dallas, Texas that handed out 9 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNT Dallas, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UNT Dallas are $13,681.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at UNT Dallas

#20 in overall quality

The University of Texas at Tyler came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region ranking. The University of Texas at Tyler is a public institution located in Tyler, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 6 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UT Tyler, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas at Tyler are $16,308, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at The University of Texas at Tyler

#20

Texas Southern University

Houston, Texas

With a ranking of #20, Texas Southern University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region list. Houston, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s criminal justice degrees to 12 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region master’s degree criminal justice students list, TSU has also earned the #24 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Texas Southern University are $13,221.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Texas Southern University

The University of Texas at Arlington came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region ranking. UT Arlington is located in Arlington, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 29 masters’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our southwest region master’s degree criminal justice students list, UT Arlington has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas at Arlington are $23,376, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full The University of Texas at Arlington Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

New Mexico State University - Main Campus ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region list. NMSU Main Campus is located in Las Cruces, New Mexico and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 16 masters’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

NMSU Main Campus did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at NMSU Main Campus are $18,275, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at New Mexico State University - Main Campus

#14 in overall quality

With a ranking of #23, The University of Texas at San Antonio did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region list. This large school is located in San Antonio, Texas, and it awarded 17 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

UTSA also made our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #14. Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas at San Antonio are $25,807, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UTSA Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#24

Texas Christian University

Fort Worth, Texas

Texas Christian University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #24. Texas Christian University is a fairly large school located in Fort Worth, Texas that handed out 13 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

TCU also took the #1 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas Christian University are $32,268, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Texas Christian University Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#25

University of the Southwest

Hobbs, New Mexico
#25 in overall quality

University of the Southwest did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #25. University of the Southwest is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Hobbs, New Mexico. It awarded 3 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region master’s degree criminal justice students list, USW has also earned the #25 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of the Southwest are $22,500, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at USW

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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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