25 Best Criminal Justice Schools in Texas

About the Program

Texas State University’s Criminal Justice and Criminology school presents students with several options for pursuing their criminal justice education in their comprehensive research-based programs.

They offer undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral-level criminal justice programs.

The undergraduate program requires students to complete 120 credit hours that include general education courses, core courses, electives, and experiential learning internships.

Courses Offered

• Introduction to Criminal Justice
• The Courts and Criminal Procedure
• Police Systems and Practices
• Correctional Systems and Practices
• Juvenile Justice
• Fundamentals of Criminal Law
• Race, Ethnicity, and Criminal Justice

Average Program Costs: $15,000

About the Program

The College of Criminal Justice at S Houston State University gives students the opportunity to earn a degree in criminal studies with additional majors in Homeland Security and Forensic Science Studies.

They also offer specialized research institutes for students interested in pursuing criminal justice careers in law enforcement, corrections, and other criminal justice careers.

Their programs focus on teaching students the principles learned through extensive research and are led by a highly experienced criminal justice faculty with a wealth of knowledge.

Students who enroll in SHSU’s criminal justice program can work toward their degrees on campus or online.

Courses Offered

• Introduction to the Criminal Justice System
• Victimology
• Criminology
• Introduction to Methods of Research
• Correctional Systems and Practice
• Fundamentals of Criminal Law
• Police Systems and Practices

Average Program Costs: $15,000

About the Program

Students who want to earn a bachelor’s degree or a minor in criminal justice studies can take courses at St. Mary’s University’s College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences School in the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology.

Their bachelor’s degree program features 120 credit hours of criminal justice coursework that educates students on the nature and causes of crime and strategies for controlling crime.

Courses Offered

• Introduction to Criminal Justice
• Research Methods in Criminal Justice
• The Law and Criminal Justice
• Criminal Justice Administration
• International Justice System
• Sociological Research
• Ethics in Criminal Justice

Average Program Costs: $17,000

About the Program

Texas Southern University has a criminal justice program that prepares students for urban careers in the field.

Their program gives students bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. options for beginning or enhancing their criminal justice education, careers, and salaries.

One of the perks of taking criminal justice studies at TSU is that its students have access to the Forensic Science Learning Lab for immersive and experiential education opportunities.

Courses Offered

• Introduction to the Administration of Justice
• Introduction to Corrections
• Research Methods in the Administration of Justice
• Criminal Law and Procedure
• Juvenile Justice System
• Security Management
• Introduction to Criminology

Average Program Costs: $21,000

About the Program

St. Edwards University in Austin offers a comprehensive criminal justice education program that teaches students the fundamentals and practical knowledge required for them to become working criminal justice professionals.

They offer immersive experiential learning options that help students visualize themselves in the line of duty.

Immersive learning experiences include mock trials, which introduce students to the American justice system and the concepts needed for applied legal reasoning.

Courses Offered

• Administration of Justice
• Criminal Law I and II
• Legal Writing
• Mock Trial
• American Court System
• American Law Enforcement
• Drugs and Crime
• Advanced Criminology
• Prosecution and Adjudication
• Juvenile Delinquency

Average Program Costs: $18,000

About the Program

Texas area students who want to earn a certificate, bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD in criminal justice can take classes at Tarleton State University.

They offer a wide range of criminal justice education options that provide students with opportunities for long-term or short-term study.

Students can earn an undergraduate or graduate certificate in Crime Analysis, which comprises five foundational courses.

Their bachelor’s degree program requires students to complete 120 credit hours of foundational coursework in criminal justice theory and practice that paves the way for immediate employment or continuing education.

Courses Offered

• Introduction to Criminal Justice
• Professional Writings in Criminal Justice
• Homeland Security
• Criminal Justice Statistics
• Court Systems and Practices
• Correctional Systems and Practices
• Criminology
• Gender, Crime, and the Criminal Justice System
• Methods of Criminal Justice Research

Average Program Costs: $19,000

About the Program

Alvin Community College is located in the city of the same name, and it offers students three options for beginning their criminal justice education.

Students who take coursework at Alvin can earn a Certification in Law Enforcement once they complete an approved police academy or an associate’s degree in Criminal Justice.

They have a law enforcement track that prepares students to become police officers, corrections officers, and other Texas law enforcement officers, and a transferable degree that prepares students for different careers in the industry.

Courses Offered

• Fundamentals of Criminal Law
• Court Systems and Practices
• Texas Government
• Criminal Investigation
• Correctional Systems and Practices
• Police Systems and Practices
• Federal Government

Average Program Costs: $8,235

About the Program

Amarillo College helps students seeking a career in law enforcement and criminal justice to begin their careers through their Basic Peace Officer Academy and Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice programs.

Their degree program takes most students two years to complete and prepares them for entry-level employment in criminal justice careers.

The Peace Academy trains new police officers and other Texas law enforcement officers according to approved standards set forth by the state.

Amarillo students learn the basics of how Texas courts work, along with how law enforcement agencies work to police criminals.

Students will also get a general understanding of how the Texas Corrections Department works to house and rehabilitate offenders.

Courses Offered

• Courts
• Correctional Institutions
• Law Enforcement Agencies
• Police Academy
• Research Methods
• Statistics
• Criminal Law

Average Program Costs: $4,956

About the Program

Texas Christian University makes the list of the best criminal justice schools in Texas for its offerings of undergraduate and graduate criminal justice programs.

Students who take classes at TCU can gain a fundamental understanding of the nature and causes of crime and learn about criminological theories used to prevent crime and administer justice to guilty defendants passing through America’s justice systems.

They will also learn how to navigate the American legal system when taking classes like Courts and Judicial Procedures.

Graduating students will also understand essential concepts and how criminal justice works with the corrections department to house and rehabilitate criminals.

Courses Offered

• Criminological Theory
• Research Design
• Courts and Judicial Procedure
• Police in a Free Society
• Criminal Law
• Law, Justice, and Social Control
• Community Corrections
• Constitutional Law for Criminal Justice

Average Program Costs: $39,000

About the Program

The Department of Social Sciences at UT-Tyler gives local students options for earning a bachelor’s or master’s degree in criminal justice.

They also offer minor concentrations in areas like Forensic Science for students who want a fundamental introduction to criminal justice studies.

Their program teaches students about the various aspects of historical and practical criminal justice procedures, students need to progress their education or begin entry-level careers in the field.

Courses Offered

• Administration of Criminal Justice
• Correctional Systems and Practices
• Statistics
• Criminal Justice Research Methods
• Criminology
• Fundamentals of Criminal Law
• Ethical Issues in Criminal Justice
• Forensic Science
• Crime Scene Processing
• Juvenile Justice

Average Program Costs: $11,000

The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), founded in 1969 and a member of the University of Texas System, is a dual-certified, Tier 1 research institution.

Focused on its students, USTA has a strong ‘career-ready’ initiative.

Dubbed ‘Roadrunners,’ the university has a strong community and college culture, including a nationally recognized athletic program.

The North San Antonio institution has three campuses and several training centers, including one at the Institute for Texan Culture.

Courses Offered

The University of Texas at San Antonio is ranked #11 in Texas and offers a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Criminology and Criminal Justice.

Students looking for advanced education can enroll in the Master of Science (MS) in Criminology and Criminal Justice program.

Both degrees emphasize research and policy and are part of the university’s College for Health, Community, and Policy.

The BA is a 120-hour pathway.

Core education is required.

Criminal justice courses include:

• Criminology
• Ethics
• Intro to Policing
• Crime Mapping
• Forensic Science
• Restorative Justice

USTA criminology graduates are also closely affiliated with the San Antonio Police Training Academy and various Texas law enforcement agencies.

The University of Texas at San Antonio is a public institution.

In-state students’ tuition, books, and fees are roughly $12,000 annually.

UTSA offers Federal financial aid options, merit-based scholarships, and grants.

Unique to the university is the UTSA Bold Promise, a commitment to cover 100% of tuition for eligible low—and middle-income students.

The Catholic University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) is in Alamo Heights and is the largest in the state.

The Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word founded the system in 1881 on 154 acres.

UIW has 11 colleges offering a broad-based liberal arts program.

There are also two campuses in Mexico and a European Study Center.

Courses Offered

The UIW offers a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (CHASS).

The 120-hour program combines core education with theoretical and practical skills.

Coursework in a criminal justice degree plan may include:

• Criminology
• U.S. Legal System
• Restorative Justice
• Environmental Crimes
• Art Crime
• Gender-based Crimes

A 120-hour internship is also required for graduation, and the program provides study-abroad opportunities.

Attending a private Roman Catholic institution costs between $37,000 and $52,000 annually, depending on housing choices and program fees.

In addition to Federal Financial Aid and grants, there are merit-based grants.

Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) is a private university with a fascinating history.

It was founded as a college for women in 1885 by the French Sisters of the Congregation of Divine Providence. Its first class had one student.

The university offers over 85 undergraduate and graduate programs and is an academic home to over 2,000 students.

Courses Offered

The College of Professional Studies administers the Bachelor of Arts Criminal Justice program.

A minimum of 120 hours is expected for graduation.

In addition to basic liberal arts classes, criminological studies can include:

• Criminal Law
• Police in Society
• CJ Theory
• Sociological Statistics
• Criminal Procedure

Internships are required for graduation.

Students can choose from opportunities with the Texas District Attorney’s Office, Child and Adult Protective Services, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), or the U.S. Marshals.

The OLLU criminal justice program is one of the few in San Antonio to house a chapter of the Sigma Lambda Honor Society, a national academic honor society for criminal justice.

The annual cost of attending Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio is approximately $44,019.90, and over 95% of students qualify for financial aid or grants.

The university has also implemented a unique four-year tuition lock guarantee to prevent enrollment tuition increases.

San Antonio College (SAC) is a two-year public college in San Antonio, Texas.

It is one of the five Alamo Colleges District locations.

SAC offers a 66-hour Associate of Arts (A.A.) or Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree.

There are also various professional certifications in disciplines ranging from the humanities, health, military sciences, education, and computer systems.

The system serves 22,028 degree-seeking students annually, with another 16,000 seeking continuing education.

Courses Offered

SAC offers several criminal justice-based associate degrees: law enforcement, criminology, and correctional science.

San Antonio College also has an independent Law Enforcement Academy for a career as a Peace Officer.

The Texas Commission of Law Enforcement (TCOLE) has approved the training, which can be applied to an A.A.S. degree in Law Enforcement.

Tuition and fees average $3,412 per semester.

Housing choices determine final costs, which are estimated to be between $17,454 and $23,870 for in-district students.

The college offers financial aid, merit, and financial-based grants, as well as payment plans for all disciplines.

Current law enforcement officers or San Antonio College Law Enforcement Academy alumni are eligible for fee waivers and discounts.

Northeast Lakeview College (NLC) is located in Universal City, a suburb of San Antonio.

It is part of the Alamo College District family. Uniquely, this 7,400-student college has a notable athletics program whose mascot is Nico, the Nighthawk.

NLC offers associate degrees and professional certification in various disciplines, including business, health, STEM, and the humanities.

Courses Offered

As part of the Department of Social Sciences, specifically public services, NLC offers an A.A.S. in Criminal Justice and certificates in Criminal Justice and Corrections.

Parts of the program are also available online for greater flexibility in scheduling.

The 60 hours of coursework impart a foundation of legal studies and a comprehensive understanding of criminal law and procedures.

The syllabus lists classes in:

• Political science
• Criminology
• Cyber Defense
• Court Procedure
• Crime in America
• Juvenile Justice

In-district tuition and fees are estimated at $7,000 per semester.

Financial Aid and merit-based grants are available.

NLC also offers payment plans and discounts for the military and first responders.

Coursework is transferable to four-year institutions.

The University of Houston is a tier 1 public research university with four campuses throughout the Metroplex, including in Clear Lake and Victoria.

The system also has off-campus training centers in Katy, Pearland, NW Houston, and Sugarland.

The main campus, located in the heart of Downtown Houston, offers over 250 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, including business, engineering, education, and health.

The University of Houston also has a respected law school and criminal justice program.

Courses Offered

The University of Houston offers both a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice.

The four-year, 120-credit-hour program provides both theoretical and procedural knowledge in criminology.

One-third of the coursework is core requirements, such as:

• Writing
• Statistics
• Law Enforcement Basics
• Criminal Court Procedures
• Ethics

Advanced education includes:

• Crime and Delinquency
• Community-Oriented Policing
• Victimology
• Race and Crime
• International Criminal Justice
• Women and the Criminal Justice System

The average in-state tuition is roughly $27,000 annually, with out-of-state costs double that amount.

Financial aid includes federal Pell Grants, state grants, personal loans, and scholarships.

The Houston Community College (HCC) has 19 campus locations throughout the Houston Metroplex and an online education program.

Over 48,000 students are enrolled in degree and vocational certificate programs throughout the HCC system.

It is a public institution with open enrollment, meaning all students with a high school diploma or GED are accepted.

Areas of study range from art, construction, and STEM to nursing and public safety.

Courses Offered

Houston Community College offers a Basic Peace Officer Licensing Certificate Level 1 and an Associate of Arts degree.

HCC also has a flexible Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree.

The Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement program allows for concentrations in:

• Law Enforcement
• Corrections
• Juvenile Justice
• AAS and Peace Officer Certificate Core courses include:
• Criminal Justice Introduction
• Fundamentals of Criminal Law and Procedures
• Correctional Systems & Practices
• Police Systems & Practices

The 24-credit or 2-year Criminal Justice program also qualifies students to take the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) State Licensing Exam, a gateway to the Houston Police Academy and the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Coursework from this program is transferable to a four-year institution for students who wish to pursue careers in law, probation officer, or advanced studies.

The Criminal Justice program costs $2,100 or $84.50 per credit hour for in-district students.

This cost does not include lab fees, books, materials, or extra items such as parking or cafeteria expenses.

Financial aid, GI Bill, and current peace officer waivers are available.

The University of St. Thomas is a private Catholic university in the heart of Houston, TX.

It offers over 100 degree programs to just under 3,800 students.

The Criminology, Law & Society Department has a uniquely structured program that can be entered as a joint Associate of Applied Sciences in Cybersecurity or Drug Enforcement with a Bachelor of Arts or Master of Arts level.

It is one of five in the United States.

Licensed Peace Officers can receive up to 18 hours of credit toward the Bachelor’s degree.

The University of St. Thomas’ criminology four-year program focuses on the challenges of crime in a free society, preparing students for careers in:

• Forensics
• Corrections
• Anti-human trafficking initiatives
• Social work

Courses Offered

A typical curriculum of the criminal justice degree lists:

• Accounting
• International Studies
• Psychology and Sociology
• Criminal Law
• Procedures
• Terrorism and WMD

Completion of internships and fieldwork is also a degree requirement.

The average annual cost of attending the University of St. Thomas is $15,000.

However, according to the university website, nearly 85% of enrolled students receive some form of financial aid or grant.

Houston Christian University (HCU) has been a private educational fixture in Houston for decades.

Founded in 1960, it was previously known as Houston Baptist University.

HCU provides a strong faith-based liberal arts education.

It offers a range of disciplines, from arts and animation to health, ministry, nursing, and education.

The student-to-faculty ratio at HCU is 16:1.

Courses Offered

Houston Christian University’s undergraduate criminal justice program offers a Bachelor of Arts degree that allows on-campus or online attendance.

Internships and workshops are part of a 120-credit-hour program – 43 credit hours of core education, including:

• English
• Math
• Psychology
• History

Criminal Justice courses cover:

• Criminal Justice
• Ethics
• Legal Procedures
• Constitutional Law
• Intelligence and National Security

HCU also offers a 36-credit-hour Master of Science (MSCJ) in Criminal Justice, focusing on legal and enforcement theory and criminal justice administration.

The entire program is offered online for greater student flexibility.

The cost of a CJ degree, which does not include housing, books, or discretionary fees, averages $620 per credit hour, with additional per-semester fees.

Potential ‘Huskies’ can apply for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), grants, and scholarships.

Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) is a fully accredited campus in Houston that is also part of the Texas A&M University system.

TAMIU’s main campus in West Texas serves the state’s international community, with an enrollment of over 8,400 students.

The university offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in business, criminal justice, philosophy, and health.

Courses Offered

Part of the Department of Social Sciences, TAMIU offers both undergraduate and graduate criminal justice degrees:

• Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences (BAAS/CJ Concentration)
• Bachelor of Science (BSCJ)
• Master of Science (MSCJ)

The undergraduate BAAS/CJ Concentration degree is focused on enforcement procedures, while the BSCJ is one of the most popular degrees at TAMIU.

It provides a foundational education that can help students pursue advanced education in public policy or law.

The Master of Science is a 36-credit online program that costs $13,212.

This advanced degree focuses on public policy, criminological theory, and administrative justice.

Coursework includes social systems, forensics, and cybercrime.

A few careers that would benefit from an MSCJ are:

• Homeland Security Officer
• Private Security Director
• Senior Corrections Officer
• Fraud Investigator

North American University (NAU)is located in Stafford, Texas, a Houston suburb.

This private, non-profit campus offers undergraduate and graduate degrees.

Courses Offered

The university offers a 120-hour Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice.

There are 36 required hours of foundational education, such as English, statistics, language, and natural science.

Enhanced courses focused on modern techniques and professional needs include:

• Constitutional Law
• Correctional System
• Criminal Courts
• Forensic Sciences
• Criminal Psychology

The NAU degree in criminal justice is ideal for careers such as:

• Crime Lab Analyst
• Crime Scene Investigator
• Forensic Investigator

NAU sets a flat rate for education.

The estimated cost per semester for undergraduate students is $12,679, which includes housing, food, tuition, books, and additional fees.

International students are charged an average of $19,486.

Dallas College has several main campus locations in and around Dallas, TX.

The first location to open was the El Centro campus in 1966.

The downtown Dallas school, along with the other locations, has served more than three million students.

The school offers more than 300 academic and technical degree and certificate programs, including its criminal justice programs.

Courses Offered

The Criminal Justice and Public Safety Associate of Applied Science program at Dallas College is offered at three campus locations.

Students complete a minimum of 60 credit hours over five semesters.

The school indicates that the curriculum is designed for criminal justice professionals, along with recent high school graduates who look forward to having a criminal justice career.

Some program courses include:

• Crime in America
• Introduction to Homeland Security
• Fundamentals of Criminal Law
• Court Systems and Practices
• Legal Aspects of Law Enforcement
• Ethics in Criminal Justice

Dallas College offers several criminal justice-related certificates that students can complete to enhance their skills and knowledge.

The Basic Criminal Justice Studies Certificate is tied to the Associate of Applied Science program.

Students who plan to transfer to a school that offers bachelor’s degree programs in criminal justice will benefit from earning this 18-credit certificate.

The 18-19 credit Digital Forensics and Private Investigation Certificate is also tied to the A.A.S. in Criminal Justice program.

It is designed for students who plan to work in specialized areas of criminal justice.

The school offers other criminal justice certificates, including a 30-credit Criminal Justice Management Certificate.

The University of North Texas at Dallas had a bit of a rocky start before it started serving students in 2000.

A state representative and senator first introduced a bill to establish a commission to conduct a study to create a higher learning institution in the southern part of Dallas County.

The veto by the then-Texas governor did not deter state officials.

The school soon became a reality.

The school recently experienced record levels of enrollment.

It is the only public, four-year university within the city of Dallas, TX.

The University of North Texas at Dallas offers undergraduate, graduate, and juris doctorate degrees.

Two of the degrees it offers are in criminal justice.

Undergraduate tuition for the fall term 2025 is $261.31 per credit hour.

Graduate students pay $311. 31 per credit.

Courses Offered

The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice program at the University of North Texas at Dallas consists of 120 hours of study.

The program incorporates some approaches from behavioral and social sciences with the study of crime in the U.S. and how the criminal justice system works in the U.S.

Some courses include:

• Correctional Systems and Practices
• Criminal Procedure
• Juvenile Justice
• Diversity Issues in Criminal Justice
• Police Systems and Practices
• Criminology

The school also offers a Master of Science in Criminal Justice program.

Students complete the 36-credit program online.

The degree prepares students for leadership and service roles that support the administration of justice in America.

Some courses include:

• Criminal Justice Policy
• Criminological Theory
• Addiction and Criminal Behavior
• Information Warfare, Security, and Risk Analysis
• Criminal Justice Administration
• Administrative Law and Justice

Texas Woman’s University is a member of the Women’s College Coalition.

The mission of the Women’s College Coalition is to transform the world through educating girls and young women and striving for the success of these women.

The school is the largest university system in the U.S. that focuses on women.

Some men do attend the school, making up 11 percent of the school’s enrollment.

Texas Woman’s University offers many of its academic programs in both the traditional on-campus format and in an online format at its Dallas campus.

One program that the school offers is the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice program.

Courses Offered

The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice program at Texas Woman’s University is an interdisciplinary program that consists of 120 credit hours.

A minimum of 57 semester hours must be criminal justice-related courses.

Students complete courses that focus on the operation of the police and the courts, as well as the operation of corrections systems.

The program also focuses on issues that criminal justice scholars find themselves addressing, including social justice, inequality, and human rights.

The program allows students to participate in an internship, with up to three hours counting towards the degree.

Some courses offered in the program include:

• Introduction to Criminal Justice
• Constitutional Law: Individual Rights
• Criminal Evidence and Procedure
• Women, Crime, and Justice
• Race, Crime, and Justice
• Police, Policies, and Practices

The Dallas, TX campus of Remington College opened its doors in 1987.

The college grew throughout the years, adding more programs to serve more students.

One of those programs is the Online Criminal Justice Completion degree.

The criminal justice program has one of the highest graduation rates at the school.

Remington College offers an interactive, online program over six twelve-week quarters.

The program serves students who already hold an associate’s degree and want to earn a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.

Students can complete the program in as little as 18 months.

Courses Offered

The courses that are offered in the criminal justice bachelor’s degree completion program focus on investigative methods in criminal justice, contemporary practices, criminal justice management, and other areas that prepare students for roles in corrections, law enforcement, and court administration.

Some of the program courses include:

• Contemporary Corrections
• Safety and Risk Management
• Forensic Psychology
• Comparative Criminal Justice Systems
• Juvenile Justice
• Criminal Justice Management

A few of the other courses include Vice, Narcotics, Crime Intelligence, Restorative Justice, and Selected Topics in Investigations.