2026 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Texas
[Criminal Justice](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/criminal-justice-and-corrections/criminal-justice/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 34 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value criminal justice schools.
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2026 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in Texas
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the criminal justice degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Criminal Justice Schools
For return on investment in criminal justice, no school beat Texas A And M University Central Texas this year. Texas A And M University Central Texas is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Killeen. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,363, with out-of-state students paying around $17,155. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $24,750. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $45,976. Texas A And M University Central Texas admits about 100% of applicants.
Texas A And M International University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice schools. 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. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $15,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Texas A And M International University generally make around $38,668. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 44%.
A rank of #3 makes The University Of Texas Pan American one of the best values for criminal justice. The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public school located in the city of Edinburg. In-state tuition and fees average $9,799, while out-of-state students pay about $19,645. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $11,644. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from The University Of Texas Pan American generally make around $35,314. Set against $11,644 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Amarillo College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice schools. Located in the city of Amarillo, Amarillo College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,136, while out-of-state students pay about $4,704. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $16,624. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Amarillo College generally make around $42,434. Set against $16,624 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice schools. Set in the city of Odessa, The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,607, while out-of-state students pay about $21,900. Students borrow a median of $20,052 to complete the criminal justice program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin generally make around $60,503. That is a strong return on a $20,052 median debt. The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin admits about 95% of applicants.
South Plains College placed #6 among the best values for criminal justice. Located in the town of Levelland, South Plains College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,733, while out-of-state students pay about $5,157. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $9,291. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from South Plains College generally make around $49,987. Set against $9,291 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hill College earned the #7 position for value in criminal justice this year. Hill College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Hillsboro. In-state tuition and fees average $2,862. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $12,302 in student loans. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $39,212. Set against $12,302 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Sam Houston State University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice schools. Set in the town of Huntsville, Sam Houston State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,228, while out-of-state students pay about $19,068. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $23,218. Criminal Justice graduates of Sam Houston State University earn a median of $44,668 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Sam Houston State University admits about 90% of applicants.
The University Of Texas At Tyler placed #9 among the best values for criminal justice. Set in the city of Tyler, The University Of Texas At Tyler is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,512, with out-of-state students paying around $24,512. Students borrow a median of $20,212 to complete the criminal justice program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Tyler generally make around $55,134. Set against $20,212 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Texas State University San Marcos ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value criminal justice schools. Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public school located in the city of San Marcos. In-state tuition and fees average $11,450, while out-of-state students pay about $22,930. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the criminal justice program here. Criminal Justice graduates of Texas State University San Marcos earn a median of $41,939 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Texas State University San Marcos admits about 89% of applicants.
Wiley College earned the #11 position for value in criminal justice this year. Set in the town of Marshall, Wiley College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,500. Students borrow a median of $37,457 to complete the criminal justice program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Wiley College generally make around $32,743. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Strayer University Texas earned the #12 position for value in criminal justice this year. Set in the suburb of Farmers Branch, Strayer University Texas is a mid-sized private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $13,920 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $56,937 to complete the criminal justice program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Strayer University Texas generally make around $43,405. That is a strong return on a $56,937 median debt.
Tarleton State University came in at #13 for value in criminal justice this year. Set in the town of Stephenville, Tarleton State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,302 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,142 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $23,250. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $50,979. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Texas Southern University came in at #14 for value in criminal justice this year. Set in the city of Houston, Texas Southern University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,637, while out-of-state students pay about $21,473. Students borrow a median of $36,250 to complete the criminal justice program here. Criminal Justice graduates of Texas Southern University earn a median of $29,763 early in their careers. Set against $36,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Texas Southern University admits about 97% of applicants.
Huston Tillotson University came in at #15 for value in criminal justice this year. Set in the city of Austin, Huston Tillotson University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $26,709 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $47,874 to complete the criminal justice program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $42,937. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 39%.
Wayland Baptist University landed the #16 spot for criminal justice value this year. Set in the town of Plainview, Wayland Baptist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $23,782 in tuition and fees. Criminal Justice graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Criminal Justice graduates of Wayland Baptist University earn a median of $53,038 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
University Of The Incarnate Word earned the #17 position for value in criminal justice this year. Located in the city of San Antonio, University Of The Incarnate Word is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $37,090 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $28,901 to complete the criminal justice program here. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from University Of The Incarnate Word generally make around $32,771. That is a strong return on a $28,901 median debt. University Of The Incarnate Word admits about 98% of applicants.
St Marys University landed the #18 spot for criminal justice value this year. Located in the city of San Antonio, St Marys University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,434. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the criminal justice program here. Criminal Justice graduates of St Marys University earn a median of $30,237 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Abilene Christian University came in at #19 for value in criminal justice this year. Located in the city of Abilene, Abilene Christian University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,200. Students borrow a median of $23,772 to complete the criminal justice program here. Early-career criminal justice graduates make about $56,463. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Abilene Christian University admits about 66% of applicants.
Texas Christian University earned the #20 position for value in criminal justice this year. Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fort Worth. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,740. Typical student debt for criminal justice graduates is $20,429. Criminal Justice graduates of Texas Christian University earn a median of $34,556 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,429 median debt. Roughly 44% of applicants are accepted.
More Criminal Justice Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 34 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 ranked schools only.
- 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.
