2026 Best Criminology Schools in the Southwest Region
Criminology programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 22 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for criminology students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Criminology in the Southwest Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the criminology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Criminology
The University Of Texas At Dallas is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in criminology. Set in the city of Richardson, The University Of Texas At Dallas is a very large public institution. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. The University Of Texas At Dallas awarded about 77 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Dallas generally make around $40,603. The University Of Texas At Dallas graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans.
Get the full criminology details for The University Of Texas At Dallas
Northern Arizona University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best criminology schools. Northern Arizona University is a very large public school located in the city of Flagstaff. About 61% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 181 criminology students who graduated with this degree at Northern Arizona University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminology degree from Northern Arizona University earn around $37,214 in the first couple years of their career. Northern Arizona University graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans.
See the full criminology program report for Northern Arizona University
A rank of #3 makes Texas Tech University one of the top schools for criminology. Set in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public institution. Texas Tech University graduates 69% of students within six years. Texas Tech University awarded about 19 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $50,332 in their early career. Texas Tech University graduates carry a median of $24,271 in student loans.
Read more about the criminology program at Texas Tech University
A rank of #4 makes University Of Houston Clear Lake one of the top schools for criminology. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Houston. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 51 criminology degrees were awarded at University Of Houston Clear Lake in the most recent 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
The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminology, ranking #5. The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Odessa. The six-year graduation rate is 40%. There were roughly 40 criminology students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin generally make around $60,503. The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin graduates carry a median of $20,052 in student loans.
See the full criminology program report for The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin
University Of St Thomas Texas earned the #6 position for criminology this year. Set in the city of Houston, University Of St Thomas Texas is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 19 criminology degrees were awarded at University Of St Thomas Texas in the most recent year. Criminology graduates of University Of St Thomas Texas earn a median of $58,265 early in their careers. University Of St Thomas Texas graduates carry a median of $23,628 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminology from University Of St Thomas Texas
Oklahoma Baptist University placed #7 among the best criminology schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Shawnee. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 11 criminology degrees were awarded at Oklahoma Baptist University in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $47,100 in their early career. Oklahoma Baptist University graduates carry a median of $23,425 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminology from Oklahoma Baptist University
Oklahoma Wesleyan University landed the #8 spot for criminology this year. Oklahoma Wesleyan University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Bartlesville. About 26% of students finish within six years. About 10 criminology degrees were awarded at Oklahoma Wesleyan University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Oklahoma Wesleyan University generally make around $64,764. Students borrow a median of $30,970 to complete this degree.
Get the full criminology details for Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Texas A And M University Commerce placed #9 among the best criminology schools. Located in the town of Commerce, Texas A And M University Commerce is a large public university. Roughly 43% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 24 criminology students who graduated with this degree at Texas A And M University Commerce in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminology degree from Texas A And M University Commerce earn around $62,820 in the first couple years of their career. 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
Texas A And M University San Antonio placed #10 among the best criminology schools. Set in the city of San Antonio, Texas A And M University San Antonio is a moderately-sized public institution. About 40% of students finish within six years. Texas A And M University San Antonio awarded about 115 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Criminology graduates of Texas A And M University San Antonio earn a median of $45,681 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,771 to complete this degree.
Get the full criminology details for Texas A And M University San Antonio
Paris Junior College placed #11 among the best criminology schools. 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.
More information about a degree in criminology from Paris Junior College
Central New Mexico Community College came in at #12 for criminology this year. Located in the city of Albuquerque, Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public university. There were roughly 79 criminology students who graduated with this degree at Central New Mexico Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminology degree from Central New Mexico Community College earn around $28,987 in the first couple years of their career. Central New Mexico Community College graduates carry a median of $10,112 in student loans.
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St Marys University placed #13 among the best criminology schools. Set in the city of San Antonio, St Marys University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. St Marys University graduates 59% of students within six years. There were roughly 25 criminology students who graduated with this degree at St Marys University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from St Marys University generally make around $33,978. St Marys University graduates carry a median of $25,125 in student loans.
See the full criminology program report for St Marys University
Howard Payne University came in at #14 for criminology this year. Located in the town of Brownwood, Howard Payne University is a small private not-for-profit university. About 28% of students finish within six years. Howard Payne University awarded about 10 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Criminology graduates of Howard Payne University earn a median of $45,660 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,734 to complete this degree.
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Texas A And M University Kingsville placed #15 among the best criminology schools. Located in the town of Kingsville, Texas A And M University Kingsville is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 42%. There were roughly 37 criminology students who graduated with this degree at Texas A And M University Kingsville 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.
Get the full criminology details 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.
- 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.
