Best colleges for Criminology in Texas
Ranked by graduate earnings
The University of Texas at Dallas, University of Houston-Clear Lake and St. Mary's University are the top bachelor's Criminology programs in Texas by graduate earnings. The University of Texas at Dallas leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,603, College Scorecard. Texas A&M University - San Antonio, The University of Texas at Dallas and University of Houston-Clear Lake award the most Criminology degrees in Texas: 121, 92 and 56 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 14 Texas colleges offer Criminology and award 485 degrees and certificates a year in all.
Criminology is the interdisciplinary study of crime and deviant behavior, situated within the field of social sciences. This program draws from various disciplines, including sociology, psychology, and law, making it ideal for students…
Top 4 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The University of Texas at Dallas Richardson Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,603 | 92 | 76% | — | $20,500 |
| 2 | University of Houston-Clear Lake Houston Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,673 | 56 | 52% | — | $16,149 |
| 3 | St. Mary's University San Antonio Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $33,978 | 33 | 59% | $21,285 | $25,125 |
| 4 | Texas A&M University - Kingsville Kingsville Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,490 | 24 | 42% | — | $25,750 |
Colleges awarding the most Criminology degrees in Texas
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas A&M University - San Antonio San Antonio Public | 121 | Not reported |
| 2 | The University of Texas at Dallas Richardson Public | 92 | $40,603 |
| 3 | University of Houston-Clear Lake Houston Public | 56 | $35,673 |
| 4 | Texas Tech University Lubbock Public | 44 | Not reported |
| 5 | St. Mary's University San Antonio Private not-for-profit | 33 | $33,978 |
| 6 | The University of Texas Permian Basin Odessa Public | 29 | Not reported |
| 7 | Texas A&M University - Kingsville Kingsville Public | 24 | $30,490 |
| 8 | Paris Junior College Paris Public | 18 | Not reported |
| 9 | East Texas A&M University Commerce Public | 17 | Not reported |
| 10 | McMurry University Abilene Private not-for-profit | 14 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 4 Texas colleges offering Criminology
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howard Payne University | Brownwood | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| University of St Thomas | Houston | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Concordia University Texas | Austin | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| LeTourneau University | Longview | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Sociologists (SOC 19-3041).
Top skills
What Sociologists earn in Texas
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Criminology programs in Texas.
Which Texas colleges award the most Criminology degrees?+
Texas A&M University - San Antonio (121 graduates a year), The University of Texas at Dallas (92 graduates a year) and University of Houston-Clear Lake (56 graduates a year) award the most Criminology degrees in Texas, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 14 Texas colleges offer Criminology.
What is the best college for Criminology in Texas?+
By graduate earnings, The University of Texas at Dallas leads among bachelor's Criminology programs in Texas, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,603, College Scorecard. University of Houston-Clear Lake and St. Mary's University follow. By degrees awarded, Texas A&M University - San Antonio is the largest, with 121 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Criminology program in Texas has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, The University of Texas at Dallas tops the list at $40,603. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
What is the focus of the Criminology program?+
Criminology is the interdisciplinary study of crime and deviant behavior, situated within the field of social sciences. This program draws from various disciplines, including sociology, psychology, and law, making it ideal for students…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop speaking, active listening, writing, active learning, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Sociologists?+
The national job outlook is about +3.6% growth with around 300 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Master's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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