2027 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Southwest Region
[Criminal Justice & Corrections](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong criminal justice & corrections education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 141 schools to find the best return on investment for criminal justice & corrections students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools in the Southwest Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the criminal justice & corrections degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools
Our analysis ranked Texas A And M University Central Texas the best value for a degree in criminal justice & corrections in the Southwest Region. Located in the rural area of Killeen, Texas A And M University Central Texas is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,363, with out-of-state students paying around $17,155. Students borrow a median of $24,750 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $45,976. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice & corrections will find it at Del Mar College, which ranked #2. Del Mar College is a large public school located in the city of Corpus Christi. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,500, while out-of-state students pay about $6,050. Students borrow a median of $6,250 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $40,661. Set against $6,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pima Community College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Pima Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. In-state tuition and fees average $2,442, with out-of-state students paying around $7,758. Students borrow a median of $7,562 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $47,820. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice & corrections will find it at College Of The Mainland, which ranked #4. College Of The Mainland is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Texas City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,310, compared with $4,140 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $10,928. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from College Of The Mainland generally make around $48,704. Set against $10,928 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in criminal justice & corrections will find it at South Texas College, which ranked #5. Set in the city of McAllen, South Texas College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,920, while out-of-state students pay about $7,620. Students borrow a median of $6,500 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $37,432. Set against $6,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
El Paso Community College landed the #6 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. El Paso Community College is a very large public school located in the city of El Paso. In-state tuition and fees average $3,274, while out-of-state students pay about $5,314. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $6,084 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $25,846. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Texas A And M International University placed #7 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Texas A And M International University is a large public school located in the city of Laredo. Students from in state pay about $7,894 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,454. Students borrow a median of $15,500 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Texas A And M International University earn a median of $38,668 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 44%.
Tarrant County College District landed the #8 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Located in the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County College District is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,863, with out-of-state students paying around $8,370. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $16,262 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Tarrant County College District generally make around $32,315. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
El Centro College placed #9 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,730, while out-of-state students pay about $6,900. Typical student debt for criminal justice & corrections graduates is $13,727. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of El Centro College earn a median of $36,386 early in their careers. Set against $13,727 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lamar State College Orange came in at #10 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Lamar State College Orange is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Orange. In-state tuition and fees average $2,832, while out-of-state students pay about $13,824. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $18,506 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Lamar State College Orange earn a median of $45,299 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The University Of Texas At Brownsville ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Set in the city of Brownsville, The University Of Texas At Brownsville is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,148, with out-of-state students paying around $4,948. Students borrow a median of $8,000 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Brownsville generally make around $25,923. Set against $8,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wharton County Junior College earned the #12 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Wharton County Junior College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Wharton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,192, while out-of-state students pay about $5,904. Students borrow a median of $8,753 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $55,919. That is a strong return on a $8,753 median debt.
The University Of Texas Pan American placed #13 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,799, compared with $19,645 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $11,644 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from The University Of Texas Pan American generally make around $35,314. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Midland College came in at #14 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the city of Midland, Midland College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,180 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,180 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,000 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Midland College generally make around $43,454. Set against $9,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Amarillo College earned the #15 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Set in the city of Amarillo, Amarillo College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,136, while out-of-state students pay about $4,704. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $16,624 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $42,434. Set against $16,624 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Brazosport College earned the #16 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the suburb of Lake Jackson, Brazosport College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,388, while out-of-state students pay about $4,711. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $6,625 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Brazosport College earn a median of $32,746 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,625 median debt.
Central New Mexico Community College came in at #17 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the city of Albuquerque, Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,060, with out-of-state students paying around $8,684. Students borrow a median of $10,112 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Central New Mexico Community College generally make around $35,865. That is a strong return on a $10,112 median debt.
San Antonio College came in at #18 for value in criminal justice & corrections 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, compared with $9,952 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,003 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $43,712. That is a strong return on a $13,003 median debt.
Mclennan Community College came in at #19 for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Mclennan Community College is a large public school located in the city of Waco. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,660, while out-of-state students pay about $5,910. Students borrow a median of $12,606 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $34,468. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Houston Community College placed #20 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Located in the city of Houston, Houston Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,040, compared with $5,460 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $13,925 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $56,454. Set against $13,925 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus placed #21 among the best values for criminal justice & corrections. Set in the town of Portales, Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,074, compared with $9,054 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,912 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates of Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus earn a median of $31,599 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Laredo Community College ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best value criminal justice & corrections schools. Laredo Community College is a large public school located in the city of Laredo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,300, with out-of-state students paying around $5,748. Students borrow a median of $6,000 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & corrections degree recipients from Laredo Community College generally make around $48,194. That is a strong return on a $6,000 median debt.
Northern Oklahoma College earned the #23 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. Located in the rural area of Tonkawa, Northern Oklahoma College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,083, with out-of-state students paying around $11,848. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $13,093 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $40,565. That is a strong return on a $13,093 median debt.
San Juan College earned the #24 position for value in criminal justice & corrections this year. San Juan College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Farmington. Students from in state pay about $1,910 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,393. Criminal Justice & Corrections graduates carry a median of $8,768 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & corrections graduates make about $49,243. Set against $8,768 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Coastal Bend College landed the #25 spot for criminal justice & corrections value this year. Coastal Bend College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Beeville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,916, compared with $5,226 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,609 to complete the criminal justice & corrections program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $35,086 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $14,609 median debt.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for criminal justice & corrections this year:
Narrow Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools by State
More Criminal Justice & Corrections Rankings
View All Criminal Justice & Corrections Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 141 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 141 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.
