2027 Best Criminology Schools in Texas
Criminology degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their criminology programs.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 12 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for criminology students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Criminology in Texas
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall criminology education in Texas.
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. The University Of Texas At Dallas graduates 76% of students within six years. About 92 criminology degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Dallas in the most recent year. Criminology graduates of The University Of Texas At Dallas earn a median of $40,603 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
See the full criminology program report for The University Of Texas At Dallas
Paris Junior College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminology, ranking #2. Set in the town of Paris, Paris Junior College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 18 criminology degrees were awarded at Paris Junior College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminology degree from Paris Junior College earn around $38,811 in the first couple years of their career. Paris Junior College graduates carry a median of $8,846 in student loans.
Read more about the criminology program at Paris Junior College
Students looking for a strong criminology program will find one at Texas Tech University, which ranked #3. Texas Tech University is a very large public school located in the city of Lubbock. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. 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. Students borrow a median of $24,271 to complete this degree.
Read more about the criminology program at Texas Tech University
Texas A And M University San Antonio came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best criminology schools. Located in the city of San Antonio, Texas A And M University San Antonio is a moderately-sized public university. Texas A And M University San Antonio graduates 40% of students within six years. Texas A And M University San Antonio awarded about 121 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from Texas A And M University San Antonio generally make around $45,681. Typical student debt for the program is $22,771.
See the full criminology program report for Texas A And M University San Antonio
Students looking for a strong criminology program will find one at University Of Houston Clear Lake, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston Clear Lake is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. University Of Houston Clear Lake awarded about 56 criminology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from University Of Houston Clear Lake generally make around $43,090. University Of Houston Clear Lake graduates carry a median of $16,149 in student loans.
See the full criminology program report for University Of Houston Clear Lake
University Of St Thomas Texas ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best criminology schools. Located in the city of Houston, University Of St Thomas Texas is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. About 12 criminology degrees were awarded at University Of St Thomas Texas in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from University Of St Thomas Texas generally make around $58,265. Students borrow a median of $23,628 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminology from University Of St Thomas Texas
The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin came in at #7 for criminology this year. Set in the city of Odessa, The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin is a moderately-sized public institution. 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. Soon after graduation, criminology degree recipients from The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin generally make around $60,503. Students borrow a median of $20,052 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in criminology from The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin
Texas A And M University Commerce ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best criminology schools. This large public university is located in the town of Commerce. The six-year graduation rate is 43%. There were roughly 17 criminology students who graduated with this degree at Texas A And M University Commerce in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminology program make about $62,820 in their early career. Texas A And M University Commerce graduates carry a median of $23,796 in student loans.
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St Marys University placed #9 among the best criminology schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of San Antonio. St Marys University graduates 59% of students within six years. About 33 criminology degrees were awarded at St Marys University in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminology degree from St Marys University earn around $33,978 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,125.
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Howard Payne University placed #10 among the best criminology schools. Set in the town of Brownwood, Howard Payne University is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 28% of students finish within six years. 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. Howard Payne University graduates carry a median of $24,734 in student loans.
More information about a degree in criminology from Howard Payne University
Mcmurry University earned the #11 position for criminology this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Abilene. The six-year graduation rate is 44%. Mcmurry University awarded about 14 criminology degrees 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.
Read more about the criminology program at Mcmurry University
Texas A And M University Kingsville placed #12 among the best criminology schools. 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. Texas A And M University Kingsville awarded about 24 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. Students borrow a median of $25,750 to complete this degree.
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), 2027 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 · 12 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.
