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2026 Best Criminology Schools in the Southwest Region

11 Colleges in the United States
717 Criminology Degrees Awarded
$46,183 Avg Early-Career Salary

Criminology is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

College Factual analyzed 22 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best criminology schools.

What’s on this page:

Best Schools for Criminology in the Southwest Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall criminology education in the Southwest Region.

Top Schools in Criminology

1

The University Of Texas At Dallas is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in criminology. The University Of Texas At Dallas is a very large public school located in the city of Richardson. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. About 77 criminology degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Dallas in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Dallas generally make around $40,603. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in criminology from The University Of Texas At Dallas

2

Northern Arizona University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best criminology schools. Located in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public university. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 181 criminology students who graduated with this degree at Northern Arizona University in the most recent data year. Criminology graduates of Northern Arizona University earn a median of $37,214 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,000 to complete this degree. See the full criminology program report for Northern Arizona University

3

Texas Tech University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminology, ranking #3. Located in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public university. About 69% of students finish within six years. About 19 criminology degrees were awarded at Texas Tech University in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminology degree from Texas Tech University earn around $50,332 in the first couple years of their career. Texas Tech University graduates carry a median of $24,271 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminology from Texas Tech University

4

Students looking for a strong criminology program will find one at University Of Houston Clear Lake, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston Clear Lake is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 51 criminology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Houston Clear Lake in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from University Of Houston Clear Lake generally make around $43,090. Students borrow a median of $16,149 to complete this degree. See the full criminology program report for University Of Houston Clear Lake

5

Students looking for a strong criminology program will find one at The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Odessa, The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin is a moderately-sized public university. The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin graduates 40% of students within six years. The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin awarded about 40 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Criminology graduates of The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin earn a median of $60,503 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,052. Get the full criminology details for The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin

6

University Of St Thomas Texas earned the #6 position for criminology this year. Located in the city of Houston, University Of St Thomas Texas is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 19 criminology students who graduated with this degree at University Of St Thomas Texas in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminology degree from University Of St Thomas Texas earn around $58,265 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,628. Read more about the criminology program at University Of St Thomas Texas

7

Oklahoma Baptist University landed the #7 spot for criminology this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Shawnee. About 52% of students finish within six years. Oklahoma Baptist University awarded about 11 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $47,100 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,425 to complete this degree. Get the full criminology details for Oklahoma Baptist University

8

Oklahoma Wesleyan University came in at #8 for criminology this year. Located in the town of Bartlesville, Oklahoma Wesleyan University is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 26%. About 10 criminology degrees were awarded at Oklahoma Wesleyan University in the most recent year. Criminology graduates of Oklahoma Wesleyan University earn a median of $64,764 early in their careers. Oklahoma Wesleyan University graduates carry a median of $30,970 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminology from Oklahoma Wesleyan University

9

Texas A And M University Commerce ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best criminology schools. Texas A And M University Commerce is a large public school located in the town of Commerce. Texas A And M University Commerce graduates 43% of students within six years. Texas A And M University Commerce awarded about 24 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Texas A And M University Commerce generally make around $62,820. Texas A And M University Commerce graduates carry a median of $23,796 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminology from Texas A And M University Commerce

10

Texas A And M University San Antonio landed the #10 spot for criminology this year. Set in the city of San Antonio, Texas A And M University San Antonio is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 40% of students complete a degree within six years here. Texas A And M University San Antonio awarded about 115 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminology degree from Texas A And M University San Antonio earn around $45,681 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,771. More information about a degree in criminology from Texas A And M University San Antonio

11

Paris Junior College earned the #11 position for criminology this year. Set in the town of Paris, Paris Junior College is a moderately-sized public institution. Paris Junior College awarded about 19 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Paris Junior College generally make around $38,811. Paris Junior College graduates carry a median of $8,846 in student loans. See the full criminology program report for Paris Junior College

12

Central New Mexico Community College came in at #12 for criminology this year. Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Albuquerque. There were roughly 79 criminology students who graduated with this degree at Central New Mexico Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Central New Mexico Community College generally make around $28,987. Central New Mexico Community College graduates carry a median of $10,112 in student loans. Read more about the criminology program at Central New Mexico Community College

13
St Marys University crest
St Marys University
San Antonio, TX

St Marys University came in at #13 for criminology this year. St Marys University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Antonio. About 59% of students finish within six years. St Marys University awarded about 25 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminology degree from St Marys University earn around $33,978 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,125 to complete this degree. Read more about the criminology program at St Marys University

14

Howard Payne University came in at #14 for criminology this year. Howard Payne University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Brownwood. Howard Payne University graduates 28% of students within six years. About 10 criminology degrees were awarded at Howard Payne University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Howard Payne University generally make around $45,660. Typical student debt for the program is $24,734. Read more about the criminology program at Howard Payne University

15

Texas A And M University Kingsville ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best criminology schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Kingsville. About 42% of students finish within six years. Texas A And M University Kingsville awarded about 37 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Criminology graduates of Texas A And M University Kingsville earn a median of $34,938 early in their careers. Texas A And M University Kingsville graduates carry a median of $25,750 in student loans. See the full criminology program report for Texas A And M University Kingsville

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Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 22 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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