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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Criminal Justice Schools in Texas

14 Colleges in the United States
1,064 Criminal Justice Degrees Awarded
$42,546 Avg Early-Career Salary

Criminal Justice degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their criminal justice programs.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 34 schools to find the best for criminal justice students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Criminal Justice in Texas

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall criminal justice education in Texas.

Top Schools in Criminal Justice

1

Our analysis ranked Texas State University San Marcos the best school in the country for a degree in criminal justice. Set in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public institution. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 17 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Texas State University San Marcos in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $41,939 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree. Read more about the criminal justice program at Texas State University San Marcos

2

Abilene Christian University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in criminal justice, ranking #2. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Abilene. About 59% of students finish within six years. Abilene Christian University awarded about 31 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Abilene Christian University generally make around $56,463. Typical student debt for the program is $23,772. Get the full criminal justice details for Abilene Christian University

3

A rank of #3 makes Sam Houston State University one of the top schools for criminal justice. Sam Houston State University is a very large public school located in the town of Huntsville. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. There were roughly 27 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Sam Houston State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Sam Houston State University generally make around $44,668. Sam Houston State University graduates carry a median of $23,218 in student loans. See the full criminal justice program report for Sam Houston State University

4
Tarleton State University crest
Tarleton State University
Stephenville, TX

Tarleton State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the town of Stephenville, Tarleton State University is a large public institution. Roughly 48% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 35 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Tarleton State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Tarleton State University earn around $50,979 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250. Read more about the criminal justice program at Tarleton State University

5

Wayland Baptist University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best criminal justice schools. Located in the town of Plainview, Wayland Baptist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 19% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 74 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Wayland Baptist University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $53,038 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000. Read more about the criminal justice program at Wayland Baptist University

6

The University Of Texas Pan American landed the #6 spot for criminal justice this year. Set in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public institution. Roughly 51% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 489 criminal justice degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas Pan American in the most recent year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $35,314 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,644 to complete this degree. Get the full criminal justice details for The University Of Texas Pan American

7

Texas A And M International University earned the #7 position for criminal justice this year. 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. About 75 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Texas A And M International University in the most recent year. Students who receive their criminal justice degree from Texas A And M International University earn around $38,668 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,500. See the full criminal justice program report for Texas A And M International University

8
Amarillo College crest
Amarillo College
Amarillo, TX

Amarillo College placed #8 among the best criminal justice schools. Amarillo College is a large public school located in the city of Amarillo. Amarillo College awarded about 44 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Amarillo College generally make around $42,434. Students borrow a median of $16,624 to complete this degree. See the full criminal justice program report for Amarillo College

9

Texas A And M University Central Texas came in at #9 for criminal justice this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the rural area of Killeen. About 44 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Texas A And M University Central Texas in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Texas A And M University Central Texas generally make around $45,976. Texas A And M University Central Texas graduates carry a median of $24,750 in student loans. See the full criminal justice program report for Texas A And M University Central Texas

10
South Plains College crest
South Plains College
Levelland, TX

South Plains College placed #10 among the best criminal justice schools. Located in the town of Levelland, South Plains College is a large public university. South Plains College awarded about 38 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Criminal Justice graduates of South Plains College earn a median of $49,987 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $9,291. Get the full criminal justice details for South Plains College

11

University Of The Incarnate Word earned the #11 position for 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. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. About 36 criminal justice degrees were awarded at University Of The Incarnate Word in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from University Of The Incarnate Word generally make around $32,771. Students borrow a median of $28,901 to complete this degree. See the full criminal justice program report for University Of The Incarnate Word

12

Texas Southern University placed #12 among the best criminal justice schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Houston. Roughly 22% of students complete a degree within six years here. Texas Southern University awarded about 88 criminal justice degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the criminal justice program make about $29,763 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $36,250 to complete this degree. Read more about the criminal justice program at Texas Southern University

13
St Marys University crest
St Marys University
San Antonio, TX

St Marys University placed #13 among the best criminal justice schools. Located in the city of San Antonio, St Marys University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 59% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 12 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at St Marys University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from St Marys University generally make around $30,237. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. Get the full criminal justice details for St Marys University

14

Huston Tillotson University came in at #14 for criminal justice this year. Located in the city of Austin, Huston Tillotson University is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 34%. There were roughly 18 criminal justice students who graduated with this degree at Huston Tillotson University in the most recent data year. Huston Tillotson University graduates carry a median of $47,874 in student loans. More information about a degree in criminal justice from Huston Tillotson University

15
Strayer University Texas crest
Strayer University Texas
Farmers Branch, TX

Strayer University Texas landed the #15 spot for criminal justice this year. Strayer University Texas is a mid-sized private for-profit school located in the suburb of Farmers Branch. The six-year graduation rate is 25%. About 36 criminal justice degrees were awarded at Strayer University Texas in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, criminal justice degree recipients from Strayer University Texas generally make around $43,405. Typical student debt for the program is $56,937. Read more about the criminal justice program at Strayer University Texas

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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 · 34 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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