Criminal Justice Schools in Texas

Criminal justice refers to the set of laws, rules, and systems that prevent crime and punish lawbreakers. The criminal justice system has multiple agencies, including law enforcement, courts, and correctional institutions.

Criminal justice employers may require applicants to hold an undergraduate or graduate degree in the field. Prospective criminal justice professionals can choose from over 100 relevant programs in Texas. Students can identify their career goals and choose a program that best suits their needs.

Overview of Criminal Justice Education in Texas

Higher Education in Texas

The best criminal justice schools in Texas may offer bachelor's, master's, or doctoral programs. Schools may offer undergraduate criminal justice programs as BA or BS degrees. A BA program focuses on social sciences while the BS program focuses on technical and quantitative topics.

BA graduates can pursue law enforcement administration or criminology roles. BS graduates can pursue science-intensive roles, including fraud investigator or forensic scientist.

Many Texas schools offer general criminal justice degrees, but students can also find majors related to criminology, juvenile justice, and national security. These other programs may have different major courses, elective opportunities, and available minors. Relevant minor choices may include forensic science or criminal justice and criminology.

Programs may require attendees to complete an internship with a local agency or organization. Attendees can also join student criminal justice organizations, which may offer networking, career information, and training programs.

Criminal Justice Schools in Texas

This section highlights schools in Texas that offer criminal justice degrees. The schools are unranked and presented alphabetically by institution name. To qualify for inclusion on this list, the school had to be nonprofit, be accredited, and offer at least one bachelor's degree in criminal justice.

Criminal Justice Careers in Texas

Texas, one of the largest employers of criminal justice professionals in the U.S., has the highest and second-highest employment numbers nationally for detective and police respectively, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Projections Central projects that many criminal justice careers in Texas may grow by double digits from 2020-2030.

Job-seekers can start their criminal justice career search on the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) website. The TDCJ career page offers jobs varying from accountant to warden. People can filter available positions by region, job category, and salary range.

Criminal justice careers in Texas can be lucrative. Both administrative law judges and first-line supervisors of police had a 2023 median salary above $100,000. Professionals in Texas may make above or below the U.S. median salary, depending on position.

Read More:
Texas State Trooper Requirements
Austin Police Department Officer Requirements
Dallas Police Department Officer Requirements
Houston Police Department Officer Requirements
San Antonio Police Department Officer Requirements

How to Choose the Best Criminal Justice School in Texas

Multiple institutions within Texas offer criminal justice programs that look similar. Applicants can find their ideal match by comparing important variables between the best criminal justice schools in Texas.

Accreditation

Students should ensure their future school has institutional accreditation. Accrediting agencies accredit schools that meet a certain threshold of learning. Non-accredited institutions may provide an insufficient education, which future schools or employers may not recognize. The Southern Association of Colleges & Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) provides institutional accreditation to Texas schools.

Cost

Institutional tuition price can vary based on a school's reputation, private vs. public schools, class sizes, and more. Out-of-state attendees may need to pay a premium compared to in-state enrollees. U.S. undergraduate criminology attendees paid an average annual tuition of $10,450, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

Program Format

Criminal justice programs may offer fully online, on-campus, or hybrid programs. Online attendees usually have additional flexibility, including asynchronous classes and creating their own study pace. On-campus students must follow a more rigid schedule, but have the opportunity to network with classmates, professors, and mentors.

Curriculum and Instructor Expertise

Programs may offer various types of professors and curriculums. Criminal justice professors may be life-long teachers or have hands-on experience in specific fields. Curriculums may focus on different aspects of the field, including social issues, justice systems, or research methods. Enrollees should consider the type of professor and curriculum focus when applying to schools.

Student Support Services

Schools can offer different student support services, including career counseling, mental health support, and complementary tutoring. Prospective enrollees should identify their personal needs and research the services offered by each school. Institutions that do not offer specific services may refer attendees to third party providers.

Financial Aid for Criminal Justice Students in Texas

Postsecondary enrollees can utilize financial aid, including grants, scholarships, and loans, to help pay for their education. Over 57% of Texas nonprofit undergraduate enrollees received a grant or scholarship, while over 25% received loans, according to Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Federal Financial Aid

Postsecondary students can submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to qualify for federal student aid. Federal student aid can include grants, loans, and work-study programs. Aid can be need-based or competitive.

Government and nonprofit employees, including criminal justice professionals, may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Qualified employees that made at least 120 monthly loan payments can receive forgiveness on the remaining loan balance.

State Financial Aid

Texas offers state financial aid programs to Texas-based enrollees. Residents attending school in another state do not qualify for these programs. Texas students can apply to scholarships and grants, including the tuition equalization grant and license plate insignia scholarship. Each financial aid package has prerequisites, which may include school type and financial need.

Criminal Justice Scholarships for Texas Students

• Mark Todd Hale Memorial Criminal Justice Scholarship
• Carole Willis Criminal Justice Reform Scholarship
• Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship Program
• The J. Edgar Hoover Foundation Scholarships
• Thurgood Marshall Scholarship
• Sheryl A. Horak Law Enforcement Explorer Memorial Scholarship
• COMTO North Texas Scholarship Program

Criminal Justice Resources in Texas

• American Criminal Justice Association
• Texas Corrections Association
• Texas Jail Association
• Texas Association of Criminal Justice Educators
• Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
• Texas Criminal Justice Information Users' Group
• Texas Crisis Intervention Team Association

Frequently Asked Questions About the Best Criminal Justice Schools in Texas