2027 Best Criminology Schools in the Southwest Region
Criminology degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 15 schools to find the best for criminology students.
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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
Leading the list is The University Of Texas At Dallas, our #1 school for criminology. Set in the city of Richardson, The University Of Texas At Dallas is a very large public institution. About 76% of students finish within six years. The University Of Texas At Dallas awarded about 92 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminology degree from The University Of Texas At Dallas earn around $40,603 in the first couple years of their career. The University Of Texas At Dallas graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminology from The University Of Texas At Dallas
Arizona State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminology, ranking #2. This very large public university is located in the city of Tempe. Arizona State University graduates 68% of students within six years. About 13 criminology degrees were awarded at Arizona State University in the most recent year. Criminology graduates of Arizona State University earn a median of $55,876 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,842.
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Students looking for a strong criminology program will find one at Northern Arizona University, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public institution. Northern Arizona University graduates 61% of students within six years. There were roughly 214 criminology students who graduated with this degree at Northern Arizona University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $37,214 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,000 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong criminology program will find one at Paris Junior College, which ranked #4. Paris Junior College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Paris. About 18 criminology degrees were awarded at Paris Junior College in the most recent 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.
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Students looking for a strong criminology program will find one at Texas Tech University, which ranked #5. This very large public university is located in the city of Lubbock. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. About 44 criminology degrees were awarded at Texas Tech University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Texas Tech University generally make around $50,332. Typical student debt for the program is $24,271.
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Texas A And M University San Antonio placed #6 among the best criminology schools. Located in the city of San Antonio, Texas A And M University San Antonio is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 40%. About 121 criminology degrees were awarded at Texas A And M University San Antonio in the most recent 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
University Of Houston Clear Lake earned the #7 position for criminology this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Houston. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Houston Clear Lake awarded about 56 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminology degree from University Of Houston Clear Lake earn around $43,090 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,149 to complete this degree.
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University Of St Thomas Texas placed #8 among the best criminology schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Houston. University Of St Thomas Texas graduates 69% of students within six years. University Of St Thomas Texas awarded about 12 criminology degrees 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. University Of St Thomas Texas graduates carry a median of $23,628 in student loans.
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The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin landed the #9 spot for criminology this year. The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Odessa. Roughly 40% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 29 criminology degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $60,503 in their early career. The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin graduates carry a median of $20,052 in student loans.
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Texas A And M University Commerce earned the #10 position for criminology this year. Texas A And M University Commerce is a large public school located in the town of Commerce. Roughly 43% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 17 criminology students who graduated with this degree at Texas A And M University Commerce in the most recent data year. Criminology graduates of Texas A And M University Commerce earn a median of $62,820 early in their careers. Texas A And M University Commerce graduates carry a median of $23,796 in student loans.
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Central New Mexico Community College came in at #11 for criminology this year. Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Albuquerque. Central New Mexico Community College awarded about 60 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $28,987 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $10,112 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminology from Central New Mexico Community College
St Marys University placed #12 among the best criminology schools. Set in the city of San Antonio, St Marys University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 59% of students finish within six years. St Marys University awarded about 33 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $33,978 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,125 to complete this degree.
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Howard Payne University came in at #13 for criminology this year. Set in the town of Brownwood, Howard Payne University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 28% of students complete a degree within six years here. Howard Payne University awarded about 12 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminology degree from Howard Payne University earn around $45,660 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,734.
More information about a degree in criminology from Howard Payne University
Mcmurry University landed the #14 spot for criminology this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Abilene. About 44% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 14 criminology students who graduated with this degree at Mcmurry University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminology degree from Mcmurry University earn around $41,609 in the first couple years of their career. Mcmurry University graduates carry a median of $29,276 in student loans.
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Texas A And M University Kingsville landed the #15 spot for criminology this year. Set in the town of Kingsville, Texas A And M University Kingsville is a moderately-sized public institution. About 42% of students finish within six years. About 24 criminology degrees were awarded at Texas A And M University Kingsville in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Texas A And M University Kingsville generally make around $34,938. Students borrow a median of $25,750 to complete this degree.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 15 schools evaluated.
- 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.
