Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Texas2026 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.
Not sure if your profile matches these schools?
The numbers above show what each school requires and costs, but they can't tell you how competitive your individual profile is against this year's applicant pool.
Drop your application data into our Free Application Review. Our AI will analyze your admission chances and stats in 2 minutes. Get practical next steps for improvements where it matters most.
Get My Free Application Review →2026 Rankings: Criminal Justice Programs in Texas
| # | 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 | Texas A & M International UniversityPublic | Strong· 36 | 46% | 49% | $2,791 | $30,739 | 21:1 | 33 | 6,502 |
| 3 | University of Houston-VictoriaPublic | Strong· 36 | 77% | 27% | $6,767 | $35,015 | 14:1 | 24 | 2,630 |
| 4 | Texas A&M University-Central TexasPublic | Strong· 35 | 100% | — | $-1,325 | $45,976 | 15:1 | 26 | 1,698 |
| 5 | The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyPublic | Strong· 35 | 85% | 49% | $7,695 | $32,899 | 19:1 | 67 | 27,026 |
| 6 | Texas A&M University-TexarkanaPublic | Strong· 35 | 80% | 31% | $11,213 | $32,971 | 13:1 | 21 | 1,748 |
| 7 | Sul Ross State UniversityPublic | Strong· 35 | 96% | 27% | $10,614 | $32,033 | 11:1 | 30 | 1,378 |
| 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 | Saint Edward's UniversityPrivate | Good· 33 | 84% | 64% | $22,064 | $36,829 | 13:1 | 56 | 2,729 |
| 12 | The University of Texas at ArlingtonPublic | Good· 33 | 81% | 57% | $14,602 | $40,577 | 23:1 | 60 | 30,834 |
| 13 | Abilene Christian UniversityPrivate | Good· 33 | 64% | 60% | $24,921 | $45,274 | 13:1 | 50 | 3,129 |
| 14 | Angelo State UniversityPublic | Good· 33 | 79% | 41% | $13,147 | $35,955 | 18:1 | 45 | 5,515 |
| 15 | The University of Texas Permian BasinPublic | Good· 33 | 84% | 43% | $9,055 | $53,042 | 20:1 | 32 | 4,122 |
| 16 | University of North Texas at DallasPublic | Good· 32 | 94% | 44% | $7,686 | — | 17:1 | 21 | 2,914 |
| 17 | Southwestern Assemblies of God UniversityPrivate | Good· 32 | 84% | 36% | $19,915 | $35,708 | 15:1 | 36 | 1,366 |
| 18 | East Texas Baptist UniversityPrivate | Good· 32 | 60% | 48% | $22,088 | $34,506 | 15:1 | 45 | 1,364 |
| 19 | Howard Payne UniversityPrivate | Good· 32 | 68% | 31% | $26,844 | $37,543 | 10:1 | 42 | 716 |
| 20 | Stephen F Austin State UniversityPublic | Good· 31 | 88% | 52% | $14,068 | $40,308 | 15:1 | 74 | 8,746 |
| 21 | St. Mary's UniversityPrivate | Good· 31 | 89% | 59% | $19,998 | $30,237 | 10:1 | 41 | 1,911 |
| 22 | University of North TexasPublic | Good· 31 | 72% | 60% | $13,489 | $39,267 | 23:1 | 81 | 33,680 |
| 23 | Texas A & M University-KingsvillePublic | Good· 31 | 92% | 46% | $11,410 | $34,401 | 16:1 | 48 | 4,622 |
| 24 | Prairie View A & M UniversityPublic | Good· 31 | 75% | 43% | $17,552 | $31,823 | 16:1 | 40 | 8,527 |
| 25 | Texas Woman's UniversityPublic | Good· 31 | 95% | 44% | $11,121 | $42,914 | 17:1 | 42 | 8,804 |
| 26 | The University of Texas at TylerPublic | Good· 31 | 92% | 47% | $13,583 | $36,532 | 17:1 | 35 | 7,009 |
| 27 | Lubbock Christian UniversityPrivate | Good· 31 | 73% | 49% | $26,392 | $45,494 | 12:1 | 43 | 1,210 |
| 28 | Midwestern State UniversityPublic | Good· 31 | 87% | 41% | $11,235 | $40,719 | 16:1 | 42 | 4,043 |
| 29 | Texas A & M University-CommercePublic | Good· 30 | 93% | 46% | $11,193 | $34,075 | 19:1 | 56 | 8,249 |
| 30 | Lamar UniversityPublic | Good· 30 | 86% | 37% | $12,281 | $43,707 | 18:1 | 54 | 7,945 |