Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Find Schools Near

2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice in the Southwest Region (With Aid)

22 Ranked Colleges
2,339 Degrees Awarded
$18,400 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor's in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2019-2020, 33,568 people earned their degree in criminal justice, making the major the 32nd most popular in the United States.

Across the Southwest region, there were 3,438 criminal justice graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 2,339 criminal justice graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,896 and $23,899 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 22 colleges that offer a degree in criminal justice. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great criminal justice programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the criminal justice program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for southwest region bachelor’s degree criminal justice students with aid.

Top 23 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice in the Southwest Region (With Aid)

#3 in overall quality

Out of the 22 schools in the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley landed the #1 spot on the list. UT Rio Grande Valley is a public institution located in Edinburg, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 424 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree criminal justice students with aid list, UT Rio Grande Valley has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is $4,514 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Criminal Justice students with aid.

The low student loan default rate of 4.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Criminal Justice Report

#6 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Texas A & M University - Central Texas. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. Killeen, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s criminal justice degrees to 35 students in 2019-2020.

Texas A & M University - Central Texas did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Texas A & M University - Central Texas

#1 in overall quality

Out of the 22 schools in the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Phoenix - Arizona landed the #3 spot on the list. This large school is located in Tempe, Arizona, and it awarded 742 bachelors’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

UOPX - Arizona also took the #1 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UOPX - Arizona is $12,944 for southwest region bachelor’s degree criminal justice students with aid.

Full University of Phoenix - Arizona Criminal Justice Report

#4

Northeastern State University

Tahlequah, Oklahoma
#8 in overall quality

Out of the 22 schools in the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Northeastern State University landed the #4 spot on the list. Northeastern State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. It awarded 105 bachelors’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

NSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Northeastern State University is $9,994 for southwest region bachelor’s degree criminal justice students with aid.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Northeastern State University

#5 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Arizona State University - Skysong. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid. Scottsdale, Arizona is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s criminal justice degrees to 211 students in 2019-2020.

ASU - Skysong also took the #5 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for ASU - Skysong is $13,971 for southwest region bachelor’s degree criminal justice students with aid.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at ASU - Skysong

#5

East Central University

Ada, Oklahoma
#11 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend East Central University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid. ECU is a small public school situated in Ada, Oklahoma. It awarded 18 bachelors’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

ECU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for East Central University is $10,334 for southwest region bachelor’s degree criminal justice students with aid.

Read more about Criminal Justice at ECU

#16 in overall quality

University of Phoenix - Texas came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This small school is located in Houston, Texas, and it awarded 5 bachelors’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree criminal justice students with aid list, UOPX - Texas has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $12,237 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Criminal Justice students with aid per year to attend University of Phoenix - Texas.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full University of Phoenix - Texas Criminal Justice Report

#7 in overall quality

University of Central Oklahoma landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. UCO is a fairly large public school situated in Edmond, Oklahoma. It awarded 29 bachelors’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCO, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Central Oklahoma is $16,562 for southwest region bachelor’s degree criminal justice students with aid.

Full UCO Criminal Justice Report

#8

Rogers State University

Claremore, Oklahoma
#19 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, Rogers State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. RSU is a small public school situated in Claremore, Oklahoma. It awarded 13 bachelors’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree criminal justice students with aid list, RSU has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $16,087 for southwest region bachelor’s degree criminal justice students with aid per year to attend Rogers State University.

Full Rogers State University Criminal Justice Report

#2 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, University of Oklahoma Norman Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a large school located in Norman, Oklahoma that handed out 58 bachelors’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

University of Oklahoma not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $21,145 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Criminal Justice students with aid per year to attend University of Oklahoma Norman Campus.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 4.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full University of Oklahoma Criminal Justice Report

#10

Texas Southern University

Houston, Texas
#20 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, Texas Southern University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. Texas Southern University is a medium-sized public school situated in Houston, Texas. It awarded 41 bachelors’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

TSU also took the #20 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Texas Southern University is $19,430 for southwest region bachelor’s degree criminal justice students with aid.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at TSU

#11

St. Mary's University

San Antonio, Texas
#10 in overall quality

St. Mary’s University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. St. Mary’s University is a small school located in San Antonio, Texas that handed out 14 bachelors’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

St. Mary’s not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $19,276 for southwest region bachelor’s degree criminal justice students with aid per year to attend St. Mary’s.

Full St. Mary’s Criminal Justice Report

#12

Wiley College

Marshall, Texas
#21 in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, Wiley College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. Wiley College is located in Marshall, Texas and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 13 bachelors’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

Wiley College also made our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #21. The estimated yearly cost for Wiley College is $17,666 for southwest region bachelor’s degree criminal justice students with aid.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Wiley College

#13

Mid-America Christian University

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
#13 in overall quality

Mid-America Christian University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 14 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

MACU also took the #13 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $20,746 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Criminal Justice students with aid per year to attend Mid-America Christian University.

Full Mid-America Christian University Criminal Justice Report

#14

Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, Texas
#4 in overall quality

Wayland Baptist University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. This small school is located in Plainview, Texas, and it awarded 75 bachelors’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Wayland Baptist University also made our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #4. It costs about $25,152 for southwest region bachelor’s degree criminal justice students with aid per year to attend Wayland Baptist University.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Wayland Baptist University

#15

University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, Texas
#12 in overall quality

University of the Incarnate Word landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This medium-sized school is located in San Antonio, Texas, and it awarded 33 bachelors’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

UIW not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UIW is $24,784 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Criminal Justice students with aid.

Read more about Criminal Justice at UIW

#15 in overall quality

Strayer University - Texas did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #16. Strayer University - Texas is located in Austin, Texas and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 21 bachelors’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

Strayer University - Texas did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Strayer University - Texas is $25,902 for southwest region bachelor’s degree criminal justice students with aid.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Strayer University - Texas

#9 in overall quality

Lubbock Christian University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #17. Lubbock Christian University is a small school located in Lubbock, Texas that handed out 18 bachelors’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

LCU also took the #9 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $24,128 for southwest region bachelor’s degree criminal justice students with aid per year to attend LCU.

Full LCU Criminal Justice Report

#18

Texas College

Tyler, Texas
#22 in overall quality

Texas College landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Tyler, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s criminal justice degrees to 18 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at TC, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $14,088 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Criminal Justice students with aid per year to attend Texas College.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Texas College

#14 in overall quality

With a ranking of #19, Abilene Christian University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. This medium-sized school is located in Abilene, Texas, and it awarded 11 bachelors’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Abilene Christian not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $26,809 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Criminal Justice students with aid per year to attend Abilene Christian University.

Read full report on Criminal Justice at Abilene Christian University

#20

DeVry University - Arizona

Phoenix, Arizona
#18 in overall quality

DeVry University - Arizona came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. DeVry University - Arizona is a private for-profit institution located in Phoenix, Arizona. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

DeVry University - Arizona did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for DeVry University - Arizona is $28,531 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Criminal Justice students with aid.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Criminal Justice at DeVry University - Arizona

#23 in overall quality

Remington College - Fort Worth Campus came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Remington College - Fort Worth Campus is a small school located in Fort Worth, Texas that handed out 5 bachelors’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Remington College - Fort Worth Campus not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $21,204 for southwest region bachelor’s degree criminal justice students with aid per year to attend Remington College - Fort Worth Campus.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Remington College - Fort Worth Campus

#24 in overall quality

Remington College - Dallas Campus landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Remington College - Dallas Campus is located in Garland, Texas and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 bachelors’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree criminal justice students with aid list, Remington College - Dallas Campus has also earned the #24 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Remington College - Dallas Campus is $20,082 for southwest region bachelor’s degree criminal justice students with aid.

Read more about Criminal Justice at Remington College - Dallas Campus

Switch to a Different Ranking Method

Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Featured Criminal Justice Administration Schools

Find Schools Near You