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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools in Texas

14 Colleges in the United States
$13,877 Avg Student Debt
$40,947 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Badge [Criminal Justice & Police Science](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/criminal-justice-and-police-science/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong criminal justice & police science education at a price that pays off.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 42 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for criminal justice & police science students.

What’s on this page:

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2026 Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools in Texas

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in criminal justice & police science, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools

1

Leading the list is South Texas College, our #1 best value for criminal justice & police science in Texas. Located in the city of McAllen, South Texas College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,920, while out-of-state students pay about $7,620. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $6,500. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of South Texas College earn a median of $37,432 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

2

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Texas A And M International University earned it the #2 place for criminal justice & police science. Texas A And M International University is a large public school located in the city of Laredo. In-state tuition and fees average $7,894, compared with $19,454 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $15,500 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Texas A And M International University earn a median of $38,668 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 44%.

3
College Of The Mainland crest
College Of The Mainland
Texas City, TX

College Of The Mainland came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. College Of The Mainland is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Texas City. In-state tuition and fees average $2,310, while out-of-state students pay about $4,140. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $10,928 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of College Of The Mainland earn a median of $48,704 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

4

A rank of #4 makes Alvin Community College one of the best values for criminal justice & police science. Alvin Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Alvin. Students from in state pay about $1,906 in tuition and fees, compared with $4,402 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,600 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $67,797. Set against $8,600 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

5
Del Mar College crest
Del Mar College
Corpus Christi, TX

Del Mar College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Del Mar College is a large public school located in the city of Corpus Christi. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,500, compared with $6,050 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $6,250 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Del Mar College earn a median of $40,661 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,250 median debt.

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6

Trinity Valley Community College came in at #6 for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Trinity Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Athens. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,640, compared with $5,970 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $14,750 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $32,623. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

7

El Paso Community College placed #7 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. El Paso Community College is a very large public school located in the city of El Paso. Students from in state pay about $3,274 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,314. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $6,084 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from El Paso Community College generally make around $25,846. Set against $6,084 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

8

Wharton County Junior College earned the #8 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the town of Wharton, Wharton County Junior College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,192, with out-of-state students paying around $5,904. Students borrow a median of $8,753 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Wharton County Junior College generally make around $55,919. That is a strong return on a $8,753 median debt.

9
Grayson College crest
Grayson College
Denison, TX

Grayson College placed #9 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Located in the rural area of Denison, Grayson College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,000, compared with $6,300 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,627 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Grayson College earn a median of $42,487 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,627 median debt.

10

Laredo Community College placed #10 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Located in the city of Laredo, Laredo Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,300, with out-of-state students paying around $5,748. Students borrow a median of $6,000 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $48,194. That is a strong return on a $6,000 median debt.

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San Antonio College crest
San Antonio College
San Antonio, TX

San Antonio College earned the #11 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the city of San Antonio, San Antonio College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,412 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,952 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $13,003 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of San Antonio College earn a median of $43,712 early in their careers. Set against $13,003 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

12
Midland College crest
Midland College
Midland, TX

Midland College placed #12 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. Midland College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Midland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,180, compared with $6,180 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $9,000 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Midland College earn a median of $43,454 early in their careers. Set against $9,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

13
Amarillo College crest
Amarillo College
Amarillo, TX

Amarillo College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Set in the city of Amarillo, Amarillo College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,136, compared with $4,704 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $16,624 in student loans. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Amarillo College earn a median of $42,434 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

14

The University Of Texas At Brownsville landed the #14 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. The University Of Texas At Brownsville is a large public school located in the city of Brownsville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,148, while out-of-state students pay about $4,948. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $8,000. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of The University Of Texas At Brownsville earn a median of $25,923 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

15

Tarrant County College District earned the #15 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County College District is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,863, with out-of-state students paying around $8,370. Students borrow a median of $16,262 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $32,315. That is a strong return on a $16,262 median debt.

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16

Mclennan Community College earned the #16 position for value in criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the city of Waco, Mclennan Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,660, compared with $5,910 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $12,606. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Mclennan Community College earn a median of $34,468 early in their careers. Set against $12,606 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

17

Central Texas College landed the #17 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Central Texas College is a large public school located in the suburb of Killeen. Students from in state pay about $3,750 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,500. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $10,521 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Central Texas College generally make around $39,465. That is a strong return on a $10,521 median debt.

18

Austin Community College District landed the #18 spot for criminal justice & police science value this year. Set in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,550, with out-of-state students paying around $10,590. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $16,378. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $46,175. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

19

Houston Community College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Houston Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. Students from in state pay about $2,040 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,460 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,925 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Houston Community College generally make around $56,454. That is a strong return on a $13,925 median debt.

20

North Central Texas College placed #20 among the best values for criminal justice & police science. North Central Texas College is a large public school located in the town of Gainesville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,600, with out-of-state students paying around $5,739. Students borrow a median of $15,965 to complete the criminal justice & police science program here. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $43,536. That is a strong return on a $15,965 median debt.

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Hill College crest
Hill College
Hillsboro, TX

Hill College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Hill College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Hillsboro. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,862. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $12,302 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $39,212. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

22
Temple College crest
Temple College
Temple, TX

Temple College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Located in the city of Temple, Temple College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,000, compared with $7,524 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $11,500. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Temple College earn a median of $55,262 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,500 median debt.

23
South Plains College crest
South Plains College
Levelland, TX

South Plains College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. South Plains College is a large public school located in the town of Levelland. In-state tuition and fees average $2,733, compared with $5,157 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $9,291 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from South Plains College generally make around $49,987. Set against $9,291 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

24

San Jacinto Community College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. San Jacinto Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,490, with out-of-state students paying around $6,690. Typical student debt for criminal justice & police science graduates is $11,376. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of San Jacinto Community College earn a median of $38,107 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,376 median debt.

25

Southwest Texas Junior College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice & police science schools. Set in the town of Uvalde, Southwest Texas Junior College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,646, with out-of-state students paying around $6,294. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates carry a median of $5,125 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice & police science graduates make about $41,320. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

Rest of the Top 35 Best Value Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools

These schools rounded out the top of this year’s criminal justice & police science value ranking:

26
Howard College crest
Howard College
Big Spring, TX
27
28
Galveston College crest
Galveston College
Galveston, TX
29
Odessa College crest
Odessa College
Odessa, TX
30
Weatherford College crest
Weatherford College
Weatherford, TX
31
Navarro College crest
Navarro College
Corsicana, TX
32
Wiley College crest
Wiley College
Marshall, TX
33
34
Blinn College crest
Blinn College
Brenham, TX
35
Strayer University Texas crest
Strayer University Texas
Farmers Branch, TX

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Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 42 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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