Best value colleges for Criminal Justice in Texas.2026 Rankings
Choosing the right Criminal Justice program in Texas means weighing more than just name recognition. We analyzed 59 colleges across the state, scoring each on the metrics that matter most to long-term career success: graduation rates, post-graduation earnings, net cost, and academic rigor.
The data tells an interesting story: Texas Christian University leads on selectivity (43% acceptance rate), but selectivity is only one dimension of quality. Across Texas's Criminal Justice programs, the typical in-state price is $18,915 and the average graduation rate is 45%. Graduates of these programs earn a median of $39,385 within one year of completing their degree.
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ranked by value score
| # | College | Value Score | Admit Rate | Grad Rate | Net Price | Median Earnings | Student:Faculty | Majors Offered | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas Christian UniversityPrivate | Great· 41 | 43% | 86% | $18,714 | $34,556 | 14:1 | 67 | 10,919 |
| 2 | Strong· 36 | 46% | 49% | $2,791 | $30,739 | 21:1 | 33 | 6,502 | |
| 3 | Strong· 36 | 77% | 27% | $6,767 | $35,015 | 14:1 | 24 | 2,630 | |
| 4 | Strong· 35 | 96% | 27% | $10,614 | $32,033 | 11:1 | 30 | 1,378 | |
| 5 | Strong· 35 | 100% | — | $-1,325 | $45,976 | 15:1 | 26 | 1,698 | |
| 6 | Strong· 35 | 80% | 31% | $11,213 | $32,971 | 13:1 | 21 | 1,748 | |
| 7 | Strong· 35 | 85% | 49% | $7,695 | $32,899 | 19:1 | 67 | 27,026 | |
| 8 | McMurry UniversityPrivate | Strong· 34 | 58% | 39% | $18,512 | $37,736 | 13:1 | 37 | 1,108 |
| 9 | Texas Wesleyan UniversityPrivate | Strong· 34 | 62% | 32% | $19,764 | $44,328 | 13:1 | 35 | 1,671 |
| 10 | Wayland Baptist UniversityPrivate | Strong· 34 | 54% | 19% | $20,654 | $53,038 | 10:1 | 34 | 2,090 |
| 11 | Abilene Christian UniversityPrivate | Good· 33 | 64% | 60% | $24,921 | $45,274 | 13:1 | 50 | 3,129 |
| 12 | Angelo State UniversityPublic | Good· 33 | 79% | 41% | $13,147 | $35,955 | 18:1 | 45 | 5,515 |
| 13 | Saint Edward's UniversityPrivate | Good· 33 | 84% | 64% | $22,064 | $36,829 | 13:1 | 56 | 2,729 |
| 14 | Good· 33 | 81% | 57% | $14,602 | $40,577 | 23:1 | 60 | 30,834 | |
| 15 | Good· 33 | 84% | 43% | $9,055 | $53,042 | 20:1 | 32 | 4,122 | |
| 16 | Good· 32 | 60% | 48% | $22,088 | $34,506 | 15:1 | 45 | 1,364 | |
| 17 | Howard Payne UniversityPrivate | Good· 32 | 68% | 31% | $26,844 | $37,543 | 10:1 | 42 | 716 |
| 18 | Good· 32 | 84% | 36% | $19,915 | $35,708 | 15:1 | 36 | 1,366 | |
| 19 | Good· 32 | 94% | 44% | $7,686 | — | 17:1 | 21 | 2,914 | |
| 20 | Lubbock Christian UniversityPrivate | Good· 31 | 73% | 49% | $26,392 | $45,494 | 12:1 | 43 | 1,210 |
| 21 | Good· 31 | 87% | 41% | $11,235 | $40,719 | 16:1 | 42 | 4,043 | |
| 22 | Good· 31 | 75% | 43% | $17,552 | $31,823 | 16:1 | 40 | 8,527 | |
| 23 | St. Mary's UniversityPrivate | Good· 31 | 89% | 59% | $19,998 | $30,237 | 10:1 | 41 | 1,911 |
| 24 | Good· 31 | 88% | 52% | $14,068 | $40,308 | 15:1 | 74 | 8,746 | |
| 25 | Good· 31 | 92% | 46% | $11,410 | $34,401 | 16:1 | 48 | 4,622 | |
| 26 | Texas Woman's UniversityPublic | Good· 31 | 95% | 44% | $11,121 | $42,914 | 17:1 | 42 | 8,804 |
| 27 | Good· 31 | 92% | 47% | $13,583 | $36,532 | 17:1 | 35 | 7,009 | |
| 28 | Good· 31 | 72% | 60% | $13,489 | $39,267 | 23:1 | 81 | 33,680 | |
| 29 | Lamar UniversityPublic | Good· 30 | 86% | 37% | $12,281 | $43,707 | 18:1 | 54 | 7,945 |
| 30 | Good· 30 | 93% | 46% | $11,193 | $34,075 | 19:1 | 56 | 8,249 |