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

14 Colleges in the United States
1,517 Criminal Justice & Police Science Degrees Awarded
$44,910 Avg Early-Career Salary

Criminal Justice & Police Science is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

College Factual analyzed 42 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best criminal justice & police science schools.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Criminal Justice & Police Science in Texas

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 criminal justice & police science degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Criminal Justice & Police Science

1
Del Mar College crest
Del Mar College
Corpus Christi, TX

Our analysis ranked Del Mar College the best school in the country for a degree in criminal justice & police science. Located in the city of Corpus Christi, Del Mar College is a large public university. About 74 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Del Mar College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Del Mar College generally make around $40,661. Del Mar College graduates carry a median of $6,250 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from Del Mar College

2

Lamar Institute Of Technology came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. Lamar Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Beaumont. About 74 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Lamar Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Lamar Institute Of Technology generally make around $71,733. Students borrow a median of $15,318 to complete this degree. Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Lamar Institute Of Technology

3

A rank of #3 makes Central Texas College one of the top schools for criminal justice & police science. This large public university is located in the suburb of Killeen. There were roughly 34 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Central Texas College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Central Texas College generally make around $39,465. Typical student debt for the program is $10,521. Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Central Texas College

4

A rank of #4 makes Laredo Community College one of the top schools for criminal justice & police science. This large public university is located in the city of Laredo. Laredo Community College awarded about 35 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Laredo Community College generally make around $48,194. Typical student debt for the program is $6,000. Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Laredo Community College

5

Alvin Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice & police science, ranking #5. Alvin Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Alvin. About 34 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Alvin Community College in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Alvin Community College earn a median of $67,797 early in their careers. Alvin Community College graduates carry a median of $8,600 in student loans. Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at Alvin Community College

6

San Jacinto Community College earned the #6 position for criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the city of Pasadena, San Jacinto Community College is a very large public university. About 159 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at San Jacinto Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $38,107 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,376 to complete this degree. See the full criminal justice & police science program report for San Jacinto Community College

7
Blinn College crest
Blinn College
Brenham, TX

Blinn College landed the #7 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the town of Brenham, Blinn College is a very large public university. There were roughly 37 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Blinn College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $45,980 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,230. Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Blinn College

8

Wharton County Junior College earned the #8 position for criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the town of Wharton, Wharton County Junior College is a moderately-sized public university. About 16 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Wharton County Junior College in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Wharton County Junior College earn a median of $55,919 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $8,753 to complete this degree. Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at Wharton County Junior College

9

Texas A And M International University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. Located in the city of Laredo, Texas A And M International University is a large public university. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 166 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Texas A And M International University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Texas A And M International University earn around $38,668 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,500 to complete this degree. See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Texas A And M International University

10

Houston Community College earned the #10 position for criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the city of Houston, Houston Community College is a very large public university. About 88 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Houston Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Houston Community College earn around $56,454 in the first couple years of their career. Houston Community College graduates carry a median of $13,925 in student loans. See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Houston Community College

11
Amarillo College crest
Amarillo College
Amarillo, TX

Amarillo College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice & police science schools. This large public university is located in the city of Amarillo. There were roughly 29 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Amarillo College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $42,434 in their early career. Amarillo College graduates carry a median of $16,624 in student loans. See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Amarillo College

12

Mclennan Community College landed the #12 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the city of Waco, Mclennan Community College is a large public institution. There were roughly 35 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Mclennan Community College in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Mclennan Community College earn a median of $34,468 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $12,606. See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Mclennan Community College

13

Austin Community College District came in at #13 for criminal justice & police science this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Austin. About 57 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Austin Community College District in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Austin Community College District earn a median of $46,175 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,378. See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Austin Community College District

14
Temple College crest
Temple College
Temple, TX

Temple College came in at #14 for criminal justice & police science this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Temple. There were roughly 38 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Temple College in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Temple College earn a median of $55,262 early in their careers. Temple College graduates carry a median of $11,500 in student loans. Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at Temple College

15
Odessa College crest
Odessa College
Odessa, TX

Odessa College earned the #15 position for criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the city of Odessa, Odessa College is a large public university. There were roughly 100 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Odessa College in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Odessa College earn a median of $47,856 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $9,087 to complete this degree. Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at Odessa College

16

Tarrant County College District earned the #16 position for criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County College District is a very large public university. About 16 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at Tarrant County College District in the most recent year. Criminal Justice & Police Science graduates of Tarrant County College District earn a median of $32,315 early in their careers. Tarrant County College District graduates carry a median of $16,262 in student loans. Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at Tarrant County College District

17
South Plains College crest
South Plains College
Levelland, TX

South Plains College placed #17 among the best criminal justice & police science schools. Set in the town of Levelland, South Plains College is a large public institution. There were roughly 17 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at South Plains College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $49,987 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $9,291 to complete this degree. Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at South Plains College

18
Midland College crest
Midland College
Midland, TX

Midland College landed the #18 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. Set in the city of Midland, Midland College is a moderately-sized public institution. Midland College awarded about 32 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from Midland College generally make around $43,454. Typical student debt for the program is $9,000. Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Midland College

19

El Paso Community College came in at #19 for criminal justice & police science this year. El Paso Community College is a very large public school located in the city of El Paso. El Paso Community College awarded about 26 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from El Paso Community College earn around $25,846 in the first couple years of their career. El Paso Community College graduates carry a median of $6,084 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminal justice & police science from El Paso Community College

20
Grayson College crest
Grayson College
Denison, TX

Grayson College landed the #20 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the rural area of Denison. There were roughly 47 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at Grayson College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $42,487 in their early career. Grayson College graduates carry a median of $11,627 in student loans. Get the full criminal justice & police science details for Grayson College

21
San Antonio College crest
San Antonio College
San Antonio, TX

San Antonio College landed the #21 spot for criminal justice & police science this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Antonio. About 71 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at San Antonio College in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from San Antonio College earn around $43,712 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,003. See the full criminal justice & police science program report for San Antonio College

22

South Texas College earned the #22 position for criminal justice & police science this year. This very large public university is located in the city of McAllen. South Texas College graduates 20% of students within six years. About 47 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at South Texas College in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $37,432 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $6,500. Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at South Texas College

23
College Of The Mainland crest
College Of The Mainland
Texas City, TX

College Of The Mainland earned the #23 position for criminal justice & police science this year. College Of The Mainland is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Texas City. About 15 criminal justice & police science degrees were awarded at College Of The Mainland in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice & police science program make about $48,704 in their early career. College Of The Mainland graduates carry a median of $10,928 in student loans. Read more about the criminal justice & police science program at College Of The Mainland

24
Navarro College crest
Navarro College
Corsicana, TX

Navarro College came in at #24 for criminal justice & police science this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Corsicana. Navarro College awarded about 60 criminal justice & police science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice & police science degree from Navarro College earn around $38,210 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,750 to complete this degree. See the full criminal justice & police science program report for Navarro College

25

The University Of Texas At Brownsville earned the #25 position for criminal justice & police science this year. Located in the city of Brownsville, The University Of Texas At Brownsville is a large public university. There were roughly 103 criminal justice & police science students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Brownsville in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice & police science degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Brownsville generally make around $25,923. Students borrow a median of $8,000 to complete this degree. See the full criminal justice & police science program report for The University Of Texas At Brownsville

Rest of the Top 29 Criminal Justice & Police Science Schools

Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong criminal justice & police science education:

26
Galveston College crest
Galveston College
Galveston, TX
27
28
29
Hill College crest
Hill College
Hillsboro, TX

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 42 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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