College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2023 Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Colleges for Veterans in the Southwest Region

41 Ranked Colleges
3,669 Degrees Awarded
$29,519 Avg Salary
Most Veteran Friendly in the Southwest Region for Criminal Justice for an Associate

Veterans have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Most Veteran Friendly in the Southwest Region for Criminal Justice for an Associate” ranking.

Criminal Justice & Corrections is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 7th of all the majors we analyze. In 2020-2021, 113,121 degrees were awarded to students with this major. In 2019-2020, criminal justice and corrections graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $35,465 and had an average of $25,425 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Southwest region, there were 16,306 criminal justice and corrections graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,694 and $26,138 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 3,669 criminal justice and corrections graduates with average earnings and debt of $35,810 and $18,681 respectively.

This year’s “Most Veteran Friendly in the Southwest Region for Criminal Justice for an Associate” ranking looked at 41 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 as well as strong veteran support.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the criminal justice and corrections program at the school, veteran affordability, and veteran satisfaction. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Criminal Justice & Corrections Schools

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Criminal Justice Rankings Other Ranking Categories

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

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Most Veteran Friendly in the Southwest Region for Criminal Justice for an Associate

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

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

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Phoenix - Arizona. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Southwest Region for Criminal Justice for an Associate list. UOPX - Arizona is located in Tempe, Arizona and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 502 associates’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

UOPX - Arizona did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list.Among the 89,763 students enrolled at University of Phoenix - Arizona, 135 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 157 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $6,437. In addition to receiving other benefits, 1 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

Read More…

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Austin Community College District. The school came in at #2 for the Most Veteran Friendly in the Southwest Region for Criminal Justice for an Associate. Austin, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s criminal justice degrees to 102 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Austin Community College District, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking.According to our most recent data, Austin Community College District supports 39,896 students, and 2,473 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 59 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $735. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.

Full Austin Community College District Veteran Student Life Report

3
San Antonio College crest
San Antonio College
San Antonio, Texas

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend San Antonio College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Southwest Region for Criminal Justice for an Associate list. San Antonio College is located in San Antonio, Texas and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 32 associates’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our southwest region associate degree vets studying criminal justice list, San Antonio College has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking.Our most recent data shows that 2,054 of the 19,231 students enrolled at San Antonio College were GI Bill® students, of which 1,362 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $1,249. To help with additional expenses, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

Read More…

4
South Texas College crest
South Texas College
McAllen, Texas

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend South Texas College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Southwest Region for Criminal Justice for an Associate list. South Texas College is a public institution located in McAllen, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 328 associates’s degrees in 2020-2021.

South Texas College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list.Of the 28,233 students enrolled at South Texas College, 532 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 193 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $1,731. To help with additional expenses, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. South Texas College offers credit for military training for eligible students.

Read More…

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend El Paso Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Southwest Region for Criminal Justice for an Associate list. Located in El Paso, Texas, this large public school handed out 272 diplomas to qualified associates’s criminal justice students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at El Paso Community College, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking.Of the 26,034 students enrolled at El Paso Community College, 1,324 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 511 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $1,459. To help with additional expenses, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.

Full El Paso Community College Veteran Student Life Report

6

American InterContinental University - Online came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Veteran Friendly in the Southwest Region for Criminal Justice for an Associate ranking. AIU Online is located in Schaumburg, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 164 associates’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

AIU Online did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list.Our most recent data shows that 640 of the 15,415 students enrolled at AIU Online were GI Bill® students, of which 665 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $6,136. In addition to receiving other benefits, 9 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. AIU Online does offer credit for military training for eligible students.

[Read full report on veteran student life at American InterContinental University - Online]](/colleges/american-intercontinental-university-online/student-life/veterans/)

7
Rio Salado College crest
Rio Salado College
Tempe, Arizona

With a ranking of #7, Rio Salado College did quite well on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Southwest Region for Criminal Justice for an Associate list. Rio Salado College is a fairly large school located in Tempe, Arizona that handed out 76 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

Rio Salado College also took the #7 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking.Among the 17,362 students enrolled at Rio Salado College, 335 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 206 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $630. During this same period, 4 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.

[Read full report on veteran student life at Rio Salado College]](/colleges/rio-salado-college/student-life/veterans/)

8
Yavapai College crest
Yavapai College
Prescott, Arizona

Yavapai College did quite well in the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Southwest Region for Criminal Justice for an Associate ranking, coming in at #8. Yavapai College is located in Prescott, Arizona and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 20 associates’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Yavapai College, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking.Among the 6,009 students enrolled at Yavapai College, 257 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 166 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $6,293. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Yavapai College does offer credit for military training for eligible students.

Read More…

9

Tarrant County College District came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Veteran Friendly in the Southwest Region for Criminal Justice for an Associate ranking. Fort Worth, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s criminal justice degrees to 42 students in 2020-2021.

Tarrant County 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.According to our most recent data, Tarrant County College supports 43,000 students, and 1,862 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 1,172 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $1,319. On top of their other funding sources, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.

[Read full report on veteran student life at Tarrant County College District]](/colleges/tarrant-county-college-district/student-life/veterans/)

10
South Plains College crest
South Plains College
Levelland, Texas

With a ranking of #10, South Plains College did quite well on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Southwest Region for Criminal Justice for an Associate list. Levelland, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s criminal justice degrees to 53 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our southwest region associate degree vets studying criminal justice list, South Plains College has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking.Our most recent data shows that 284 of the 8,880 students enrolled at South Plains College were GI Bill® students, of which 106 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $2,097. On top of their other funding sources, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. South Plains College offers credit for military training for eligible students.

Read More…

11
North Harris Montgomery crest
Lone Star College System
The Woodlands, Texas

With a ranking of #11, Lone Star College System did quite well on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Southwest Region for Criminal Justice for an Associate list. Lone Star College System is a public institution located in The Woodlands, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 163 associates’s degrees in 2020-2021.

North Harris Montgomery did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list.Of the 70,109 students enrolled at North Harris Montgomery, 1,932 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 1,202 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $2,042. To help with additional expenses, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. North Harris Montgomery offers credit for military training for eligible students.

Full Lone Star College System Veteran Student Life Report

12
Phoenix College crest
Phoenix College
Phoenix, Arizona

With a ranking of #12, Phoenix College did quite well on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Southwest Region for Criminal Justice for an Associate list. Phoenix College is a medium-sized school located in Phoenix, Arizona that handed out 27 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

Phoenix College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list.Of the 9,538 students enrolled at Phoenix College, 228 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 155 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $1,104. On top of their other funding sources, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.

Full Phoenix College Veteran Student Life Report

13
Pima County Community College District crest
Pima Community College
Tucson, Arizona

With a ranking of #13, Pima Community College did quite well on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Southwest Region for Criminal Justice for an Associate list. Pima County Community College District is a public institution located in Tucson, Arizona. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 17 associates’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Our most recent data shows that 853 of the 15,544 students enrolled at Pima Community College were GI Bill® students, of which 426 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $1,036. To help with additional expenses, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

Full Pima County Community College District Veteran Student Life Report

14

Wayland Baptist University did quite well in the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Southwest Region for Criminal Justice for an Associate ranking, coming in at #14. Wayland Baptist University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Plainview, Texas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 16 associates’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Wayland Baptist University also took the #4 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking.Among the 4,062 students enrolled at Wayland Baptist University, 2 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 4 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $6,578. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

[Read full report on veteran student life at Wayland Baptist University]](/colleges/wayland-baptist-university/student-life/veterans/)

15

Glendale Community College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Most Veteran Friendly in the Southwest Region for Criminal Justice for an Associate ranking. Glendale Community College is a public institution located in Glendale, Arizona. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 25 associates’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Glendale Community College also made our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #20.Among the 14,374 students enrolled at Glendale Community College, 637 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 418 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $1,071. During this same period, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

[Read full report on veteran student life at Glendale Community College]](/colleges/glendale-community-college-glendale-az/student-life/veterans/)

16
RSC crest
Rose State College
Midwest City, Oklahoma

Rose State College did quite well in the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Southwest Region for Criminal Justice for an Associate ranking, coming in at #16. Located in Midwest City, Oklahoma, this medium-sized public school awarded 27 degrees to qualified associates’s criminal justice students in 2020-2021.

Our most recent data shows that 540 of the 6,722 students enrolled at Rose State College were GI Bill® students, of which 282 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $2,113. To help with additional expenses, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Rose State College offers credit for military training for eligible students.

Read More…

17

Houston Community College ranked #17 on this year’s Most Veteran Friendly in the Southwest Region for Criminal Justice for an Associate list. Houston Community College is a large public school situated in Houston, Texas. It awarded 14 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

Of the 48,329 students enrolled at Houston Community College, 1,421 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 783 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $1,632. On top of their other funding sources, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.

Full Houston Community College Veteran Student Life Report

18

Tyler Junior College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Most Veteran Friendly in the Southwest Region for Criminal Justice for an Associate ranking. Tyler, Texas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s criminal justice degrees to 61 students in 2020-2021.

Tyler Junior 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.Among the 11,749 students enrolled at Tyler Junior College, 416 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 173 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $2,366. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

[Read full report on veteran student life at Tyler Junior College]](/colleges/tyler-junior-college/student-life/veterans/)

19
Cameron University crest
Cameron University
Lawton, Oklahoma

Cameron University landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Southwest Region for Criminal Justice for an Associate ranking. Cameron University is a small school located in Lawton, Oklahoma that handed out 10 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

Among the 3,771 students enrolled at Cameron University, 892 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 284 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $3,633. To help with additional expenses, 1 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.

Read More…

20
Amarillo College crest
Amarillo College
Amarillo, Texas

With a ranking of #20, Amarillo College did quite well on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Southwest Region for Criminal Justice for an Associate list. Amarillo, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s criminal justice degrees to 64 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our southwest region associate degree vets studying criminal justice list, Amarillo College has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking.Of the 9,079 students enrolled at Amarillo College, 260 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 141 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $1,795. On top of their other funding sources, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.

[Read full report on veteran student life at Amarillo College]](/colleges/amarillo-college/student-life/veterans/)

21

Arizona Western College ranked #21 on this year’s Most Veteran Friendly in the Southwest Region for Criminal Justice for an Associate list. This medium-sized school is located in Yuma, Arizona, and it awarded 80 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

AWC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list.According to our most recent data, Arizona Western College supports 6,487 students, and 254 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 166 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $1,156. During this same period, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

Read More…

22
Western New Mexico University crest
Western New Mexico University
Silver City, New Mexico

Western New Mexico University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Most Veteran Friendly in the Southwest Region for Criminal Justice for an Associate ranking. Western New Mexico University is a public institution located in Silver City, New Mexico. The school has a small population, and it awarded 4 associates’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Of the 2,896 students enrolled at Western New Mexico University, 99 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 50 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $4,538. To help with additional expenses, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

[Read full report on veteran student life at Western New Mexico University]](/colleges/western-new-mexico-university/student-life/veterans/)

23

New Mexico State University - Dona Ana came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Most Veteran Friendly in the Southwest Region for Criminal Justice for an Associate 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 63 associates’s degrees in 2020-2021.

NMSU Dona Ana also took the #14 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking.Our most recent data shows that 288 of the 7,028 students enrolled at NMSU Dona Ana were GI Bill® students, of which 164 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $1,016. During this same period, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. NMSU Dona Ana does offer credit for military training for eligible students.

Read More…

24
COM crest
College of the Mainland
Texas City, Texas

College of the Mainland did quite well in the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Southwest Region for Criminal Justice for an Associate ranking, coming in at #24. College of the Mainland is located in Texas City, Texas and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 25 associates’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

COM also made our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #25.Our most recent data shows that 118 of the 4,335 students enrolled at COM were GI Bill® students, of which 96 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $1,327. On top of their other funding sources, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

Read More…

25

Central New Mexico Community College ranked #25 on this year’s Most Veteran Friendly in the Southwest Region for Criminal Justice for an Associate list. CNM is a fairly large school located in Albuquerque, New Mexico that handed out 29 associates’s criminal justice degrees in 2020-2021.

Of the 21,398 students enrolled at Central New Mexico Community College, 839 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 390 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $1,171. On top of their other funding sources, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.

Read More…

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options