2026 Best Value Criminal Justice Studies Schools in Texas

1

Texas A And M International University
Laredo, TX

For return on investment in criminal justice studies, no school beat Texas A And M International University this year. Texas A And M International University is a large public school located in the city of Laredo. Students from in state pay about $7,894 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,454 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,500 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Texas A And M International University generally make around $42,029. Set against $15,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 44% of applicants are accepted.

2

South Texas College
McAllen, TX

South Texas College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of McAllen, South Texas College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,920, with out-of-state students paying around $7,620. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $6,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from South Texas College generally make around $37,432. That is a strong return on a $6,500 median debt.

3

Alvin Community College
Alvin, TX

Alvin Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Alvin, Alvin Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,906, compared with $4,402 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,600 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $67,797. That is a strong return on a $8,600 median debt.

4

College Of The Mainland
Texas City, TX

Students looking for strong value in criminal justice studies will find it at College Of The Mainland, which ranked #4. College Of The Mainland is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Texas City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,310, compared with $4,140 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,928 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $48,704. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

5

El Centro College
Dallas, TX

A rank of #5 makes El Centro College one of the best values for criminal justice studies. Located in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,730, while out-of-state students pay about $6,900. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $13,727 in student loans. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of El Centro College earn a median of $36,386 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,727 median debt.

6

Lamar State College Orange
Orange, TX

Lamar State College Orange placed #6 among the best values for criminal justice studies. Lamar State College Orange is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Orange. Students from in state pay about $2,832 in tuition and fees, compared with $13,824 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $18,506 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Lamar State College Orange generally make around $45,299. Set against $18,506 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

7

El Paso Community College
El Paso, TX

El Paso Community College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice studies schools. Located in the city of El Paso, El Paso Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,274 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,314 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,084 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of El Paso Community College earn a median of $25,846 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

8

Laredo Community College
Laredo, TX

Laredo Community College earned the #8 position for value in criminal justice studies this year. Located in the city of Laredo, Laredo Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,300, while out-of-state students pay about $5,748. Students borrow a median of $6,000 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Laredo Community College generally make around $48,194. Set against $6,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

9

Grayson College
Denison, TX

Grayson College came in at #9 for value in criminal justice studies this year. Set in the rural area of Denison, Grayson College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,000, with out-of-state students paying around $6,300. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $11,627 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $42,487. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

10

Central Texas College
Killeen, TX

Central Texas College placed #10 among the best values for criminal justice studies. 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. Students borrow a median of $10,521 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Central Texas College earn a median of $39,465 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

11

San Antonio College
San Antonio, TX

San Antonio College placed #11 among the best values for criminal justice studies. Located in the city of San Antonio, San Antonio College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,412, compared with $9,952 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $13,003 in student loans. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of San Antonio College earn a median of $37,855 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

12

The University Of Texas Pan American
Edinburg, TX

The University Of Texas Pan American earned the #12 position for value in criminal justice studies this year. Located in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,799, compared with $19,645 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $11,644. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $46,404. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Texas Pan American admits about 94% of applicants.

13

Tarrant County College District
Fort Worth, TX

Tarrant County College District ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice studies schools. Tarrant County College District is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Worth. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,863, with out-of-state students paying around $8,370. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $16,262. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $32,315. Set against $16,262 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

14

Mclennan Community College
Waco, TX

Mclennan Community College came in at #14 for value in criminal justice studies this year. Located in the city of Waco, Mclennan Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,660, with out-of-state students paying around $5,910. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $12,606. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Mclennan Community College generally make around $34,468. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

15

The University Of Texas At Brownsville
Brownsville, TX

The University Of Texas At Brownsville landed the #15 spot for criminal justice studies value this year. The University Of Texas At Brownsville is a large public school located in the city of Brownsville. In-state tuition and fees average $3,148, with out-of-state students paying around $4,948. Students borrow a median of $8,000 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Brownsville generally make around $25,923. Set against $8,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

16

Temple College
Temple, TX

Temple College came in at #16 for value in criminal justice studies this year. Temple College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Temple. In-state tuition and fees average $3,000, compared with $7,524 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $11,500 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $55,262. That is a strong return on a $11,500 median debt.

17

Lee College
Baytown, TX

Lee College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice studies schools. Located in the city of Baytown, Lee College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,520 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,045. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $10,941. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Lee College earn a median of $53,448 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,941 median debt.

18

Hill College
Hillsboro, TX

Hill College came in at #18 for value in criminal justice studies this year. Set in the town of Hillsboro, Hill College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,862. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $12,302. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $39,212. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

19

Paris Junior College
Paris, TX

Paris Junior College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice studies schools. Located in the town of Paris, Paris Junior College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,700 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,700 for out-of-state students. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $8,846 in student loans. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Paris Junior College earn a median of $38,811 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

20

Texarkana College
Texarkana, TX

Texarkana College placed #20 among the best values for criminal justice studies. Located in the city of Texarkana, Texarkana College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,476 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,332. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $16,126 in student loans. Criminal Justice Studies graduates of Texarkana College earn a median of $33,707 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,126 median debt.

21

Southwest Texas Junior College
Uvalde, TX

Southwest Texas Junior College earned the #21 position for value in criminal justice studies this year. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $6,294. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $5,125. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $41,320. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

22

Galveston College
Galveston, TX

Galveston College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice studies schools. Galveston College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Galveston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,726, with out-of-state students paying around $6,176. Students borrow a median of $15,183 to complete the criminal justice studies program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Galveston College generally make around $61,086. That is a strong return on a $15,183 median debt.

23

Howard College
Big Spring, TX

Howard College earned the #23 position for value in criminal justice studies this year. Located in the town of Big Spring, Howard College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,766, with out-of-state students paying around $6,716. Typical student debt for criminal justice studies graduates is $13,278. Soon after graduation, criminal justice studies degree recipients from Howard College generally make around $33,724. Set against $13,278 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

24

University Of Houston Victoria
Victoria, TX

University Of Houston Victoria placed #24 among the best values for criminal justice studies. University Of Houston Victoria is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Victoria. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,149, while out-of-state students pay about $16,941. Criminal Justice Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice studies graduates make about $35,015. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.

25

University Of North Texas At Dallas
Dallas, TX

University Of North Texas At Dallas landed the #25 spot for criminal justice studies value this year. Located in the city of Dallas, University Of North Texas At Dallas is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,595, while out-of-state students pay about $21,894. University Of North Texas At Dallas admits about 84% of applicants.