2027 Best Value Criminology Schools in Texas
[Criminology](/majors/social-sciences/criminology/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 12 schools to find the best return on investment for criminology students.
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2027 Best Value Criminology Schools in Texas
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the criminology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Criminology Schools
Paris Junior College earned the #1 spot for value among criminology schools in Texas. Located in the town of Paris, Paris Junior College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,700, with out-of-state students paying around $5,700. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $8,846. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Paris Junior College generally make around $38,811. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Texas A And M University San Antonio earned it the #2 place for criminology. Texas A And M University San Antonio is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of San Antonio. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,654, compared with $23,255 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $22,771. Criminology graduates of Texas A And M University San Antonio earn a median of $45,681 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Texas A And M University San Antonio admits about 93% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Texas A And M University Commerce earned it the #3 place for criminology. Located in the town of Commerce, Texas A And M University Commerce is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,026, with out-of-state students paying around $22,326. Criminology graduates carry a median of $23,796 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Texas A And M University Commerce generally make around $62,820. That is a strong return on a $23,796 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin one of the best values for criminology. Set in the city of Odessa, The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,607, compared with $21,900 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminology graduates is $20,052. Criminology graduates of The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin earn a median of $60,503 early in their careers. Set against $20,052 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin admits about 95% of applicants.
University Of Houston Clear Lake came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value criminology schools. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston Clear Lake is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,346, while out-of-state students pay about $22,290. Criminology graduates carry a median of $16,149 in student loans. Criminology graduates of University Of Houston Clear Lake earn a median of $43,090 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,149 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas At Dallas landed the #6 spot for criminology value this year. The University Of Texas At Dallas is a very large public school located in the city of Richardson. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,644, with out-of-state students paying around $40,144. Criminology graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Criminology graduates of The University Of Texas At Dallas earn a median of $40,603 early in their careers. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
Texas A And M University Kingsville ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value criminology schools. Texas A And M University Kingsville is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Kingsville. In-state tuition and fees average $9,892, while out-of-state students pay about $25,746. Criminology graduates carry a median of $25,750 in student loans. Early-career criminology graduates make about $34,938. That is a strong return on a $25,750 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Texas Tech University landed the #8 spot for criminology value this year. Texas Tech University is a very large public school located in the city of Lubbock. In-state tuition and fees average $11,852, while out-of-state students pay about $24,157. Students borrow a median of $24,271 to complete the criminology program here. Early-career criminology graduates make about $50,332. Set against $24,271 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Texas Tech University admits about 73% of applicants.
University Of St Thomas Texas ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value criminology schools. University Of St Thomas Texas is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Houston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,634. Criminology graduates carry a median of $23,628 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from University Of St Thomas Texas generally make around $58,265. Set against $23,628 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Mcmurry University placed #10 among the best values for criminology. Mcmurry University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Abilene. Students from in state pay about $32,100 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $29,276 to complete the criminology program here. Criminology graduates of Mcmurry University earn a median of $41,609 early in their careers. Set against $29,276 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
St Marys University landed the #11 spot for criminology value this year. St Marys University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Antonio. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,434. Criminology graduates carry a median of $25,125 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from St Marys University generally make around $33,978. That is a strong return on a $25,125 median debt. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Howard Payne University came in at #12 for value in criminology this year. Howard Payne University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Brownwood. In-state tuition and fees average $34,982. Criminology graduates carry a median of $24,734 in student loans. Criminology graduates of Howard Payne University earn a median of $45,660 early in their careers. Set against $24,734 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 67%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
