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Best Value Criminal Justice and Corrections Colleges in Texas

Ranked by best return on investment (earnings vs. cost). See our methodology.

Texas A&M University-Central Texas delivers the state's most affordable criminal justice education at just $1,113 net cost, while graduates from Lamar University earn $40,056 annually. This $38,943 earnings gap between the lowest and highest-earning programs reflects the varied career paths within Texas law enforcement and corrections. The state's massive criminal justice infrastructure creates steady demand for qualified professionals. Texas employs over 70,000 law enforcement officers across 254 counties, plus thousands more in the state's 104 correctional facilities. Public universities dominate the value market, with 14 of the top 15 programs charging in-state tuition below $11,000. Net costs range from $1,113 to $15,235, making quality criminal justice education accessible across income levels. University of Houston-Downtown graduates command $38,289 in median earnings, nearly matching Lamar's outcomes despite charging $14,623 in net costs.
50
Programs
$1,113 – $33,531
Net Price Range
$32,236
Avg. Program Earnings
43.6%
Avg. Graduation Rate

50 Criminal Justice and Corrections Programs

Program rankings
# School Net Price Program Earnings In-State Tuition Graduation Rate Acceptance Rate
1 $1,113 $25,774 $6,627 95.7%
2 $3,061 $27,784 $7,846 48.9% 47.9%
3 $5,458 $29,995 $3,148 26.8%
4 $6,500 $28,312 $9,859 49.3% 87.7%
5 $8,624 $37,424 $7,499 26.5% 82.1%
6 $11,429 $40,056 $8,690 37.2% 83.7%
7 $10,948 $36,776 $8,648 44.2% 93.6%
8 $11,882 $36,992 $10,310 41.3% 92.4%
9 $11,234 $34,059 $8,991 51.2% 86.9%
10 $12,915 $37,568 $8,319 40.7% 79.1%
11 $8,376 $24,035 $9,590 43.8% 93.6%
12 $10,095 $27,048 $12,500 20.0%
13 $11,268 $29,926 $10,026 45.9% 86.5%
14 $14,623 $38,289 $7,708 33.8% 88.4%
15 $10,726 $28,073 $9,744 45.9% 99.9%
16 $12,637 $32,569 $7,930 31.2% 91.5%
17 $15,152 $37,856 $10,600 51.7% 89.5%
18 $12,714 $31,741 $14,520 99.2%
19 $14,352 $35,615 $11,164 59.6% 79.1%
20 $15,235 $36,968 $11,728 56.5% 80.8%
21 $13,931 $33,687 $9,920 46.8% 93.9%
22 $17,517 $40,448 $13,920 50.0%
23 $14,041 $31,676 $11,299 43.2% 76.1%
24 $16,025 $35,964 $9,228 55.1% 84.6%
25 $10,650 $22,766 $10,008 10.7%
26 $15,137 $32,071 $9,748 33.7% 88.0%
27 $16,438 $34,176 $11,450 56.2% 87.7%
28 $19,734 $36,488 $9,173 19.9% 96.8%
29 $20,261 $36,668 $7,878 51.2% 87.1%
30 $18,264 $32,711 $14,842 45.5%
31 $20,498 $35,213 $35,660 51.8% 94.2%
32 $21,031 $35,701 $31,686 49.6% 88.3%
33 $19,398 $32,925 $37,934 32.4% 60.9%
34 $17,760 $28,960 $31,728 42.4%
35 $20,841 $30,616 $9,101 47.3% 91.6%
36 $24,532 $34,420 $18,238 9.1%
37 $21,352 $28,960 $36,242 58.8% 86.2%
38 $20,540 $27,488 $23,186 19.2% 69.7%
39 $33,531 $44,021 $57,220 85.6% 56.1%
40 $23,790 $30,409 $30,050 48.0% 67.7%
41 $23,636 $28,212 $51,384 64.2% 85.1%
42 $21,571 $25,372 $15,764
43 $27,401 $31,741 $42,380 60.2% 65.8%
44 $25,910 $29,685 $27,298 48.7% 81.6%
45 $30,092 $33,993 $38,140 60.4% 91.4%
46 $24,976 $25,372 $19,341 26.4%
47 $25,610 $25,372 $20,001 50.9%
48 $27,829 $25,372 $23,785 37.6%
49 $20,244 $13,498 38.1% 57.3%
50 $28,690 $33,150 53.4% 95.7%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Texas A&M University-Central Texas such an outstanding value for criminal justice students?

Students pay only $1,113 in net costs while the program maintains a 95.71% acceptance rate. The university serves military families at nearby Fort Hood, creating strong connections to federal law enforcement careers. Graduates earn $25,774 annually with manageable debt loads of $20,375.

How do earnings compare between the most and least expensive programs?

Lamar University charges $11,429 in net costs but delivers the highest graduate earnings at $40,056. Meanwhile, Texas A&M-Central Texas costs just $1,113 with graduates earning $25,774. The $14,282 earnings difference helps justify Lamar's higher price point for students seeking maximum career earning potential.

Where do criminal justice graduates find employment opportunities in Texas?

Texas operates 104 state correctional facilities plus county jails in all 254 counties. The state employs over 70,000 sworn law enforcement officers across municipal, county, and state agencies. Border patrol and federal agencies also maintain significant presence due to the 1,254-mile border with Mexico.

Does graduation rate affect job prospects for criminal justice majors?

The University of Texas at San Antonio achieves a 51.20% graduation rate, the highest among these programs, while graduates earn $34,059. Texas Woman's University follows with 44.20% graduation rate and $36,776 in earnings. Completion rates matter since many law enforcement agencies require degree completion for hiring or promotion.

What debt levels should students expect from Texas criminal justice programs?

Average debt ranges from $11,000 at UT Rio Grande Valley to $25,629 at University of Houston-Victoria. Most public programs keep debt below $25,000, making payments manageable on typical law enforcement salaries. Texas A&M International University graduates carry only $15,500 in debt while earning $27,784 annually.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.