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2022 Best Value Colleges for Criminology (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region

15 Ranked Colleges
848 Degrees Awarded
$11,900 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Criminology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Criminology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2019-2020, 10,182 people earned their degree in criminology, making the major the 82nd most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, criminology graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $32,583 and had an average of $24,397 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Southwest region, there were 848 criminology graduates with average earnings and debt of $35,657 and $23,916 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Criminology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 15 colleges that offer a degree in criminology. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great criminology programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

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

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Criminology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Criminology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for southwest region criminology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 15 Best Value Colleges for Criminology (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region

#1

Central New Mexico Community College

Albuquerque, New Mexico

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Central New Mexico Community College. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Criminology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, this large public school handed out 72 diplomas to qualified ’s criminology students in 2019-2020.

CNM not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Criminology Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend CNM is $2,604 for Southwest Region Criminology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Criminology at CNM

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Arizona State University - Tempe. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Criminology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k. ASU - Tempe is a large school located in Tempe, Arizona that handed out 16 ’s criminology degrees in 2019-2020.

ASU - Tempe also took the #5 spot in our “Best Criminology Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $7,044 for southwest region criminology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend ASU - Tempe.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full ASU - Tempe Criminology Report

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Criminology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, The University of Texas of the Permian Basin landed the #3 spot on the list. The University of Texas of the Permian Basin is a medium-sized public school situated in Odessa, Texas. It awarded 32 ’s criminology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UT Permian Basin, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Criminology Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $7,889 for southwest region criminology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UT Permian Basin.

Read full report on Criminology at UT Permian Basin

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Criminology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Houston - Clear Lake landed the #4 spot on the list. UH Clear Lake is a public institution located in Houston, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 59 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UH Clear Lake also made our “Best Criminology Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #3. The yearly cost to attend UH Clear Lake is $4,517 for Southwest Region Criminology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full University of Houston - Clear Lake Criminology Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Texas at Dallas. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Criminology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k. The University of Texas at Dallas is a large school located in Richardson, Texas that handed out 75 ’s criminology degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Dallas also took the #2 spot in our “Best Criminology Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UT Dallas is $10,857 for southwest region criminology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 4.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full UT Dallas Criminology Report

#7 in overall quality

Texas A&M University - San Antonio came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Texas A&M San Antonio is a medium-sized school located in San Antonio, Texas that handed out 123 ’s criminology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Texas A&M San Antonio, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Criminology Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Texas A&M San Antonio is $9,372 for southwest region criminology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Criminology at Texas A&M San Antonio

#7

Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, Arizona

Northern Arizona University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. This large school is located in Flagstaff, Arizona, and it awarded 278 ’s criminology degrees in 2019-2020.

NAU also made our “Best Criminology Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #4. The yearly cost to attend NAU is $9,251 for southwest region criminology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Criminology at Northern Arizona University

With a ranking of #8, Texas A&M University - Commerce did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Commerce, Texas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s criminology degrees to 18 students in 2019-2020.

Texas A&M Commerce did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Criminology Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $10,013 for southwest region criminology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Texas A&M University - Commerce.

Read more about Criminology at Texas A&M University - Commerce

Texas A&M University - Kingsville came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Texas A&M Kingsville is a medium-sized public school situated in Kingsville, Texas. It awarded 56 ’s criminology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Texas A&M Kingsville, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Criminology Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Texas A&M University - Kingsville is $11,105 for Southwest Region Criminology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Criminology at Texas A&M Kingsville

#10

St. Mary's University

San Antonio, Texas

St. Mary’s University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. St. Mary’s is a small private not-for-profit school situated in San Antonio, Texas. It awarded 22 ’s criminology degrees in 2019-2020.

St. Mary’s also made our “Best Criminology Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #8. The estimated yearly cost for St. Mary’s is $15,338 for Southwest Region Criminology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full St. Mary’s University Criminology Report

#11

Howard Payne University

Brownwood, Texas

Howard Payne University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #11. Howard Payne is a small school located in Brownwood, Texas that handed out 19 ’s criminology degrees in 2019-2020.

Howard Payne not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Criminology Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $16,048 for Southwest Region Criminology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Howard Payne University.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Criminology at Howard Payne University

#12

Saint Edward's University

Austin, Texas

Saint Edward’s University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Austin, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s criminology degrees to 14 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region criminology students whose families make $0-$30k list, St. Edward’s University has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Criminology Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $19,126 for Southwest Region Criminology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Saint Edward’s University.

Read more about Criminology at Saint Edward’s University

#13

Oklahoma Baptist University

Shawnee, Oklahoma

Oklahoma Baptist University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Oklahoma Baptist University is a small school located in Shawnee, Oklahoma that handed out 4 ’s criminology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at OBU, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Criminology Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend OBU is $18,537 for Southwest Region Criminology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full OBU Criminology Report

#14

McMurry University

Abilene, Texas

McMurry University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. McMurray University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Abilene, Texas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 3 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

McMurray University also took the #15 spot in our “Best Criminology Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend McMurry University is $17,194 for Southwest Region Criminology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Criminology at McMurry University

Concordia University, Texas landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminology Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Lakeway, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s criminology degrees to 11 students in 2019-2020.

Concordia University, Texas also made our “Best Criminology Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #11. It costs about $19,588 for southwest region criminology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Concordia University, Texas.

Read more about Criminology at Concordia University, Texas

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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