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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice & Corrections (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region

27 Ranked Colleges
961 Degrees Awarded
$16,200 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master's in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

With 113,581 degrees handed out in 2019-2020, criminal justice and corrections is the 6th most popular major in the United States. In 2017-2018, criminal justice and corrections graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $31,952 and had an average of $24,936 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Southwest region, there were 16,347 criminal justice and corrections graduates with average earnings and debt of $30,942 and $25,383 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 961 criminal justice and corrections graduates with average earnings and debt of $53,078 and $37,227 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 27 colleges that offered a degree in criminal justice and corrections. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent criminal justice and corrections programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the criminal justice and corrections program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for southwest region master’s degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 26 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Criminal Justice & Corrections (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region

#15 in overall quality

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 #1 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Texas A & M University - Central Texas is a public institution located in Killeen, Texas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 7 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Texas A & M University - Central Texas, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas A & M University - Central Texas are $13,561, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Texas A & M University - Central Texas

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k. This large school is located in Edinburg, Texas, and it awarded 11 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Rio Grande Valley also took the #16 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UT Rio Grande Valley are $15,151, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

#17 in overall quality

Out of the 27 schools in the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Texas A&M International University landed the #3 spot on the list. This medium-sized school is located in Laredo, Texas, and it awarded 23 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas A&M International University also took the #17 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas A&M International University are $15,106, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Texas A&M International University

#21 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of North Texas at Dallas. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of North Texas at Dallas is located in Dallas, Texas and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 9 masters’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

UNT Dallas not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UNT Dallas are $13,681, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UNT Dallas Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

Out of the 27 schools in the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of North Texas landed the #5 spot on the list. University of North Texas is a public institution located in Denton, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 17 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UNT also took the #11 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UNT are $15,618.

Full UNT Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#14 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, The University of Texas at San Antonio did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. The University of Texas at San Antonio is a public institution located in San Antonio, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 17 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UTSA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas at San Antonio are $25,807, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at UTSA

#20 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, The University of Texas at Tyler did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Tyler, Texas, this medium-sized public school handed out 6 diplomas to qualified masters’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

UT Tyler did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UT Tyler are $16,308, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full The University of Texas at Tyler Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#8

Sam Houston State University

Huntsville, Texas

Sam Houston State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #8. This large school is located in Huntsville, Texas, and it awarded 116 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

SHSU also took the #2 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Sam Houston State University are $15,704, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Sam Houston State University Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#9

MSU Texas

Wichita Falls, Texas
#22 in overall quality

MSU Texas came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. MSU Texas is located in Wichita Falls, Texas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 masters’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

MSU Texas also took the #22 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at MSU Texas are $7,935, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full MSU Texas Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#10

Lamar University

Beaumont, Texas

Lamar University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Beaumont, Texas, and it awarded 86 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Lamar University also made our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #13. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Lamar University are $15,699.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Lamar University

#11

Arizona State University - Skysong

Scottsdale, Arizona

Arizona State University - Skysong came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Scottsdale, Arizona, this large public school handed out 200 degrees to qualified masters’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

ASU - Skysong not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Arizona State University - Skysong are $6,724, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at ASU - Skysong

With a ranking of #11, University of Houston - Downtown did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Houston, Texas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s criminal justice degrees to 39 students in 2019-2020.

UH Downtown did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UH Downtown are $15,739, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UH Downtown Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#12

Northeastern State University

Tahlequah, Oklahoma

Northeastern State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. Tahlequah, Oklahoma is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s criminal justice degrees to 19 students in 2019-2020.

NSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northeastern State University are $10,600, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at NSU

University of Phoenix - Arizona landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UOPX - Arizona is located in Tempe, Arizona and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 148 masters’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our southwest region master’s degree criminal justice students whose families make $0-$30k list, UOPX - Arizona has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Phoenix - Arizona are $17,096, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at University of Phoenix - Arizona

#14

Texas State University

San Marcos, Texas
#6 in overall quality

Texas State University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Texas State is a large public school situated in San Marcos, Texas. It awarded 17 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Texas State, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas State University are $17,040, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Texas State Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#15

Angelo State University

San Angelo, Texas
#18 in overall quality

Angelo State University landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Angelo State is a public institution located in San Angelo, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 5 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Angelo State also made our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #18. Average graduate tuition and fees at Angelo State University are $14,396, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Angelo State

New Mexico State University - Main Campus came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. NMSU Main Campus is a public institution located in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 16 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

NMSU Main Campus also made our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #23. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at New Mexico State University - Main Campus are $18,275.

Full New Mexico State University - Main Campus Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

The University of Texas at Arlington came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UT Arlington is located in Arlington, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 29 masters’s criminal justice degrees to qualified students.

UT Arlington also made our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #10. Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas at Arlington are $23,376, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UT Arlington Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#9 in overall quality

University of Central Oklahoma ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Central Oklahoma is a fairly large school located in Edmond, Oklahoma that handed out 5 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

UCO also made our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #9. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Central Oklahoma are $17,913.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at UCO

#19

West Texas A&M University

Canyon, Texas

West Texas A&M University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. West Texas A&M University is a fairly large public school situated in Canyon, Texas. It awarded 2 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

West Texas A&M University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #0 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at West Texas A&M University are $8,013, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at West Texas A&M University

#20

Tarleton State University

Stephenville, Texas

With a ranking of #20, Tarleton State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Stephenville, Texas, and it awarded 32 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Tarleton, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Tarleton State University are $15,485.

Read full report on Criminal Justice & Corrections at Tarleton State University

#21

Prairie View A & M University

Prairie View, Texas

Prairie View A & M University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Prairie View, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s criminal justice degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.

PVAMU also took the #0 spot in our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Prairie View A & M University are $17,071, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full PVAMU Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#22

Grand Canyon University

Phoenix, Arizona

With a ranking of #22, Grand Canyon University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Grand Canyon University is a large private for-profit school situated in Phoenix, Arizona. It awarded 93 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Grand Canyon University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Grand Canyon University are $11,436, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Grand Canyon University

Hardin - Simmons University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #23. This small school is located in Abilene, Texas, and it awarded 1 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

Hardin - Simmons not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #0 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Hardin - Simmons are $14,320, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Hardin - Simmons Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#24

University of the Southwest

Hobbs, New Mexico
#25 in overall quality

With a ranking of #24, University of the Southwest did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Hobbs, New Mexico, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 3 degrees to qualified masters’s criminal justice students in 2019-2020.

USW did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #25 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at USW are $22,500, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of the Southwest Criminal Justice & Corrections Report

#25

Texas Christian University

Fort Worth, Texas

Texas Christian University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Criminal Justice Schools for a Master’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Texas Christian University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Fort Worth, Texas. It awarded 13 masters’s criminal justice degrees in 2019-2020.

TCU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Criminal Justice & Corrections Master’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Texas Christian University are $32,268.

Read more about Criminal Justice & Corrections at Texas 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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