Best colleges for criminal justice in Texas

Colleges that offer a bachelor’s in criminal justice or criminology, ranked by Compass Score.

Best colleges for criminal justice in Texas60 schools

60 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score. The top 25 are shown.

How this list is made

Schools in Texas.
Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
Offers a bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology, from the College Scorecard field-of-study data (credential level 3).
Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.

Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.

1
Texas Christian University
Fort Worth, TX · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
#5 in Texas
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade C+
2
The University of Texas at Dallas
Richardson, TX · Public
#8 in Texas
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade A · Top 10%
3
LeTourneau University
Longview, TX · Private nonprofit
#17 in Texas
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade C+
4
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX · Public
#18 in Texas
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade B+ · Top 27%
5
Abilene Christian University
Abilene, TX · Private nonprofit
#20 in Texas
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade B-
6
University of St. Thomas
Houston, TX · Private nonprofit
Top 22% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade B+ · Top 29%
7
Saint Edward's University
Austin, TX · Private nonprofit
#22 in Texas
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade B-
8
University of North Texas
Denton, TX · Public
#23 in Texas
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade A- · Top 20%
9
The University of Texas at Tyler
Tyler, TX · Public
Top 24% for low debt
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade A · Top 9%
10
Texas A & M International University
Laredo, TX · Public
Top 2% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade A · Top 9%
11
Texas State University
San Marcos, TX · Public
#28 in Texas
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade B+ · Top 27%
12
St. Mary's University
San Antonio, TX · Private nonprofit
#29 in Texas
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade B
13
The University of Texas at Arlington
Arlington, TX · Public
Top 23% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade A · Top 6%
14
The University of Texas at San Antonio
San Antonio, TX · Public
Top 17% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade A · Top 9%
15
University of Houston-Clear Lake
Houston, TX · Public
#32 in Texas
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade A- · Top 14%
16
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Edinburg, TX · Public
Top 4% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade A · Top 5%
17
Lubbock Christian University
Lubbock, TX · Private nonprofit
#34 in Texas
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade B-
18
Dallas Baptist University
Dallas, TX · Private nonprofit
#36 in Texas
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade B-
19
West Texas A & M University
Canyon, TX · Public
#38 in Texas
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade B · Top 44%
20
Sam Houston State University
Huntsville, TX · Public
#39 in Texas
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade B+ · Top 33%
21
Stephen F Austin State University
Nacogdoches, TX · Public
#41 in Texas
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade B · Top 37%
22
East Texas Baptist University
Marshall, TX · Private nonprofit
#42 in Texas
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade B-
23
Dallas Christian College
Dallas, TX · Private nonprofit
#43 in Texas
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade C+
24
Our Lady of the Lake University
San Antonio, TX · Private nonprofit
#44 in Texas
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade B
25
Texas Woman's University
Denton, TX · Public
Top 21% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in criminal justice or criminology
- Value grade A · Top 10%

Compare cost and outcomes

School	Net price a year	Median debt	Earnings 10 years out	Graduation rate
Texas Christian University	$36,660	$21,500	$68,424	86%
The University of Texas at Dallas	$18,267	$18,000	$68,227	76%
LeTourneau University	$28,185	$26,000	$57,103	59%
Texas Tech University	$19,070	$21,500	$62,454	69%
Abilene Christian University	$26,182	$24,250	$55,736	59%
University of St. Thomas	$19,359	$19,928	$59,224	69%
Saint Edward's University	$25,578	$24,803	$58,826	63%
University of North Texas	$15,649	$19,250	$57,010	61%
The University of Texas at Tyler	$13,323	$17,137	$57,053	54%
Texas A & M International University	$3,637	$15,000	$48,386	46%
Texas State University	$16,805	$21,000	$56,906	55%
St. Mary's University	$21,145	$25,563	$56,955	59%
The University of Texas at Arlington	$13,951	$17,527	$63,199	54%
The University of Texas at San Antonio	$10,836	$20,500	$57,131	53%
University of Houston-Clear Lake	$15,563	$17,831	$59,004	52%
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley	$4,831	$12,950	$49,620	51%
Lubbock Christian University	$24,456	$20,948	$53,787	51%
Dallas Baptist University	$28,516	$21,591	$56,807	57%
West Texas A & M University	$19,487	$19,500	$50,741	55%
Sam Houston State University	$16,404	$21,983	$54,211	55%
Stephen F Austin State University	$14,260	$23,409	$49,634	53%
East Texas Baptist University	$23,911	$23,250	$52,788	47%
Dallas Christian College	$22,960	$24,912	$43,503	29%
Our Lady of the Lake University	$16,442	$24,999	$48,675	46%
Texas Woman's University	$11,963	$19,218	$56,544	49%

Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.

The national list → · All top school lists →

Best colleges for criminal justice in Texas

How this list is made

Texas Christian University

The University of Texas at Dallas

LeTourneau University

Texas Tech University

Abilene Christian University

University of St. Thomas

Saint Edward's University

University of North Texas

The University of Texas at Tyler

Texas A & M International University

Texas State University

St. Mary's University

The University of Texas at Arlington

The University of Texas at San Antonio

University of Houston-Clear Lake

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Lubbock Christian University

Dallas Baptist University

West Texas A & M University

Sam Houston State University

Stephen F Austin State University

East Texas Baptist University

Dallas Christian College

Our Lady of the Lake University

Texas Woman's University

Compare cost and outcomes

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