2022 Best Value Colleges for Criminal Justice in the Southwest Region (With Aid)

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
Criminal Justice is the 32nd most popular major in the country with 33,568 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.
Across the Southwest region, there were 3,438 criminal justice graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 34 colleges that offer a degree in criminal justice. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality criminal justice programs that also have a lower cost than 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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid” list to help you make the college decision.
One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid.
Top 26 Best Value Colleges for Criminal Justice in the Southwest Region (With Aid)
Out of the 34 schools in the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools 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. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is located in Edinburg, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 435 ’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UT Rio Grande Valley, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UT Rio Grande Valley is $4,514 for southwest region criminal justice students with aid.
The student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Texas A & M University - Central Texas. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid. Located in Killeen, Texas, this small public school awarded 42 degrees to qualified ’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.
Texas A & M University - Central Texas also made our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #7.
Full Texas A & M University - Central Texas Criminal Justice Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Amarillo College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid. Amarillo College is located in Amarillo, Texas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 52 ’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.
Amarillo College also took the #8 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Amarillo College is $5,578 for southwest region criminal justice students with aid.
Out of the 34 schools in the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, South Plains College landed the #4 spot on the list. South Plains College is a medium-sized public school situated in Levelland, Texas. It awarded 46 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.
South Plains College also took the #9 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for South Plains College is $7,600 for Southwest Region Criminal Justice students with aid.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Texas A&M International University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid. This medium-sized school is located in Laredo, Texas, and it awarded 23 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.
Texas A&M International University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Texas A&M International University is $3,074 for southwest region criminal justice students with aid.
Read full report on Criminal Justice at Texas A&M International University
Northern Oklahoma College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #6. Northern Oklahoma College is a small public school situated in Tonkawa, Oklahoma. It awarded 34 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.
Northern Oklahoma College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $7,474 for southwest region criminal justice students with aid per year to attend Northern Oklahoma College.
Read more about Criminal Justice at Northern Oklahoma College
University of Phoenix - Arizona did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #7. Tempe, Arizona is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out ’s criminal justice degrees to 1,036 students in 2019-2020.
UOPX - Arizona did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Phoenix - Arizona is $12,944 for Southwest Region Criminal Justice students with aid.
Read more about Criminal Justice at University of Phoenix - Arizona
Central New Mexico Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #8. Located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, this large public school awarded 31 diplomas to qualified ’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.
It costs about $3,429 for Southwest Region Criminal Justice students with aid per year to attend Central New Mexico Community College.
Read more about Criminal Justice at Central New Mexico Community College
Northeastern State University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. NSU is a public institution located in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 124 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.
NSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Northeastern State University is $9,994 for Southwest Region Criminal Justice students with aid.
Sam Houston State University landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Sam Houston State University is a public institution located in Huntsville, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 48 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at SHSU, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $14,617 for southwest region criminal justice students with aid per year to attend SHSU.
With a ranking of #11, Arizona State University - Skysong did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. Scottsdale, Arizona is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s criminal justice degrees to 420 students in 2019-2020.
ASU - Skysong also made our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #6. The estimated yearly cost for Arizona State University - Skysong is $13,971 for southwest region criminal justice students with aid.
With a ranking of #11, East Central University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. ECU is located in Ada, Oklahoma and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 18 ’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.
ECU also took the #16 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend East Central University is $10,334 for Southwest Region Criminal Justice students with aid.
Texas State University landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Texas State is a large public school situated in San Marcos, Texas. It awarded 24 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our southwest region criminal justice students with aid list, Texas State has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Texas State is $15,230 for southwest region criminal justice students with aid.
With a ranking of #13, Arizona Western College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. AWC is located in Yuma, Arizona and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 62 ’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for AWC is $10,165 for southwest region criminal justice students with aid.
Read full report on Criminal Justice at Arizona Western College
University of Phoenix - Texas did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #14. UOPX - Texas is located in Houston, Texas and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 10 ’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.
UOPX - Texas not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UOPX - Texas is $12,237 for Southwest Region Criminal Justice students with aid.
Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
University of Central Oklahoma ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. Edmond, Oklahoma is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s criminal justice degrees to 34 students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our southwest region criminal justice students with aid list, UCO has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $16,562 for Southwest Region Criminal Justice students with aid per year to attend UCO.
Rogers State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #16. Claremore, Oklahoma is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s criminal justice degrees to 13 students in 2019-2020.
RSU also took the #25 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Rogers State University is $16,087 for Southwest Region Criminal Justice students with aid.
Read full report on Criminal Justice at Rogers State University
University of Oklahoma Norman Campus landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in Norman, Oklahoma, and it awarded 58 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at University of Oklahoma, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Oklahoma is $21,145 for Southwest Region Criminal Justice students with aid.
With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Criminal Justice at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus
Texas Southern University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #18. Texas Southern University is a public institution located in Houston, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 56 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $19,430 for southwest region criminal justice students with aid per year to attend TSU.
St. Mary’s University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #19. St. Mary’s is located in San Antonio, Texas and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 14 ’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.
St. Mary’s also made our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #15. It costs about $19,276 for Southwest Region Criminal Justice students with aid per year to attend St. Mary’s.
Wiley College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #20. Marshall, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s criminal justice degrees to 13 students in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Wiley College is $17,666 for southwest region criminal justice students with aid.
Mid-America Christian University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #21. MACU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It awarded 14 ’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at MACU, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $20,746 for Southwest Region Criminal Justice students with aid per year to attend Mid-America Christian University.
With a ranking of #22, Wayland Baptist University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Plainview, Texas, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 105 diplomas to qualified ’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Wayland Baptist University, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Wayland Baptist University is $25,152 for Southwest Region Criminal Justice students with aid.
With a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read full report on Criminal Justice at Wayland Baptist University
University of the Incarnate Word ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. San Antonio, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s criminal justice degrees to 33 students in 2019-2020.
UIW did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UIW is $24,784 for Southwest Region Criminal Justice students with aid.
Strayer University - Texas came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Strayer University - Texas is located in Austin, Texas and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 21 ’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.
Strayer University - Texas not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Strayer University - Texas is $25,902 for Southwest Region Criminal Justice students with aid.
Read full report on Criminal Justice at Strayer University - Texas
Lubbock Christian University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. Lubbock Christian University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lubbock, Texas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 18 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.
LCU also made our “Best Criminal Justice Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #14. The yearly cost to attend Lubbock Christian University is $24,128 for Southwest Region Criminal Justice students with aid.
Read more about Criminal Justice at Lubbock Christian University
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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.
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