Rankings / Online
Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Texas
- 50
- Schools
- $47,156
- Avg. Earnings
- 37%
- Avg. Graduation
- $11,999
- Avg. Net Price
- $16,224
- Avg. Debt
CollegeRanker Research
What Surprised Us Most
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Median graduate earnings across these 50 schools run from $36,788 to $63,199, a 1.7× gap. The category label alone says little about payoff.
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South Texas College delivers the most for the money: roughly $36,788 in median earnings against $1,751 a year in net price, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio on the list.
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South Texas College is the lowest-cost school here at $1,751 a year in net price.
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University of St Thomas graduates 69% of its students, versus a 37% average across the list. Completion, more than selectivity, signals whether a degree actually gets finished.
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Collin County Community College District carries the healthiest debt load, with graduates owing just 0.15× their annual earnings.
Surprising Comparisons
- #1 Lamar University ($49,652 earnings) outranks the list's highest earner, The University of Texas at Arlington ($63,199), because it does more on mobility and cost.
- South Texas College costs $1,751 a year and Dallas Baptist University costs $28,516. Yet their graduates earn $36,788 and $56,807, nowhere near the $26,765 price gap.
- On value, South Texas College beats The University of Texas at Arlington: comparable career payoff at a fraction of the net price.
The Takeaway
The through line among the top-ranked schools is plain. They pair solid graduate earnings with affordable costs and meaningful social mobility. Prestige and selectivity matter far less than whether students end up better off.
What This Means for Students
Your shortlist should start with South Texas College and University of St Thomas. For each school, look up the net price your family would actually pay, weigh it against typical graduate earnings, and build the decision around the return instead of the name recognition.
Why this ranking matters
These schools are ranked on outcomes that compound: graduate earnings, upward mobility, debt, and value, all drawn from federal tax records and Scorecard data rather than reputation surveys. The list rewards results over prestige, led by institutions whose graduates earn a median of about $46K ten years after enrollment.
How we measure this — full methodology →How we rank · 4 pillars
Federal-source data only. Build your own weighting →
Data Behind This Page Updated 2026-07-20
Source datasets
Methodology
Schools are scored on the CollegeRanker 4-Pillar Algorithm: Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25–35%), Academic Quality (15–20%), and Value (20–25%). Every weight is published and every figure traces to a public dataset.
See the full methodology and weights →Confidence notes
- Earnings, completion, and debt figures come from federal administrative records — tax data and student-aid filings — not surveys or self-reports, the highest-confidence tier of education data available.
- Social-mobility estimates are drawn from de-identified tax records covering more than 30 million students (Opportunity Insights).
- Where an institution is missing a metric, it is excluded from that metric rather than imputed, so averages are never inflated by guesses.
Limitations
- Federal earnings data primarily cover students who received federal financial aid; outcomes for non-aided students may differ.
- Earnings are measured roughly ten years after enrollment, so they describe how earlier cohorts fared — historical outcomes, not guarantees of future results.
- An institution's field-of-study mix affects raw earnings; scores reflect measured outcomes and are not fully major-adjusted unless explicitly noted.
- Net price is an average; the actual cost a given student pays varies widely by family income.
At a Glance
How the Top Schools Compare
| School | Earnings | Net Price | Graduation | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Lamar University #1 overall | $49,652 ▲ +5% vs avg | $9,366 | 37% | 100 |
| 2 McMurry University #2 overall | $48,779 ▲ +3% vs avg | $19,581 | 41% | 100 |
| 3 The University of Texas Permian Basin #3 overall | $56,073 ▲ +19% vs avg | $12,723 | 42% | 100 |
| $41,871 ▼ -11% vs avg | $13,286 | 29% | 100 | |
| $42,026 ▼ -11% vs avg | $6,368 | 32% | 100 |
Score uses our 4-pillar methodology. Earnings % is vs. this list's average.
See full ranking →Executive Summary
Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Texas
This analysis ranks 50 institutions on graduate earnings, social mobility, completion, and cost. Across the list, alumni earn a median of $47,156 ten years after enrolling, against an average graduation rate of 37% and an average net price of $11,999.
Key takeaways
- Strongest Earnings-to-Cost Ratio: South Texas College — Net Price: $1,751 | Graduation Rate: 27%
- Strongest Completion Outcomes: University of St Thomas — 69% completion rate
- Highest Earnings Generator: The University of Texas at Arlington — Median alumni earnings: $63,199
Research Note
The most expensive quartile of colleges costs 373% more than the most affordable — but their graduates earn just 34% more.
Legal Profession Analysis
What does this ranking tell us about the legal profession and the justice system?
$46,238
Median earnings (10yr)
36%
Median graduation rate
$10,967
Median net price
2.3%
Avg. mobility rate
Law and criminal-justice programs feed careers where outcomes hinge on two numbers most rankings ignore: bar passage and employment in the field. Salaries are famously bimodal, with a cluster at large firms and a long tail in public-interest and government roles. Debt loads can be heavy, so program quality carries unusual stakes.
The median graduation rate across these 50 schools is 36%. Median graduate earnings reach $46,238 ten years after enrollment. Average net price, the cost after grants, is $10,967 a year, and median federal debt at graduation is about $15,900. Some 38% of students receive Pell grants, and mobility, the share of low-income students who reach the top quintile, averages 2.3%.
What we’re seeing: the gap between programs with strong bar-passage and placement records and the rest is wide, and debt makes that gap consequential. Median earnings of $46,238 against $15,900 in typical debt show why fit and outcomes matter more here than prestige alone.
The podium
Build your ranking
Drag a pillar — schools re-rank live.
Tip: Check the box on any 2–4 schools below to compare them side by side.
Full rankings
Why it ranks #1
Lamar University lands at #1 with a 100/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by academic quality (60/100). Graduates earn a median $49,652 a decade after enrolling, 5% above this list's average, and net price runs $9,366 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #2
McMurry University lands at #2 with a 100/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (56/100). Graduates earn a median $48,779 a decade after enrolling, 3% above this list's average, and net price runs $19,581 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #3
The University of Texas Permian Basin lands at #3 with a 100/100 composite, led by social mobility (84/100) and pulled down by academic quality (65/100). Graduates earn a median $56,073 a decade after enrolling, 19% above this list's average, and net price runs $12,723 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #4
Sul Ross State University lands at #4 with a 100/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by academic quality (44/100). Graduates earn a median $41,871 a decade after enrolling, 11% below this list's average, and net price runs $13,286 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #5
Odessa College lands at #5 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (87/100) and pulled down by academic quality (46/100). Graduates earn a median $42,026 a decade after enrolling, 11% below this list's average, and net price runs $6,368 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #6
East Texas A&M University lands at #6 with a 100/100 composite, led by social mobility (92/100) and pulled down by academic quality (53/100). Graduates earn a median $50,296 a decade after enrolling, 7% above this list's average, and net price runs $11,841 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #7
McLennan Community College lands at #7 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (83/100) and pulled down by academic quality (56/100). Graduates earn a median $39,163 a decade after enrolling, 17% below this list's average, and net price runs $5,051 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #8
Wayland Baptist University lands at #8 with a 100/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (50/100). Graduates earn a median $51,838 a decade after enrolling, 10% above this list's average, and net price runs $20,590 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #9
Dallas College lands at #9 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (90/100) and pulled down by social mobility (38/100). Graduates earn a median $41,714 a decade after enrolling, 12% below this list's average, and net price runs $3,214 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #10
North Central Texas College lands at #10 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (82/100) and pulled down by academic quality (65/100). Graduates earn a median $45,809 a decade after enrolling, 3% below this list's average, and net price runs $6,587 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #11
Hill College lands at #11 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (83/100) and pulled down by academic quality (44/100). Graduates earn a median $39,572 a decade after enrolling, 16% below this list's average, and net price runs $7,577 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Arlington, TX · 80% accepted · $13,951 net
Why it ranks #12
The University of Texas at Arlington lands at #12 with a 100/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by academic quality (54/100). Graduates earn a median $63,199 a decade after enrolling, 34% above this list's average, and net price runs $13,951 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #13
Austin Community College District lands at #13 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (85/100) and pulled down by academic quality (39/100). Graduates earn a median $43,177 a decade after enrolling, 8% below this list's average, and net price runs $6,390 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #14
San Antonio College lands at #14 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (88/100) and pulled down by academic quality (40/100). Graduates earn a median $39,711 a decade after enrolling, 16% below this list's average, and net price runs $4,585 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #15
West Texas A & M University lands at #15 with a 100/100 composite, led by academic quality (67/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (58/100). Graduates earn a median $50,741 a decade after enrolling, 8% above this list's average, and net price runs $19,487 a year, above the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #16
Abilene Christian University lands at #16 with a 100/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (48/100). Graduates earn a median $55,736 a decade after enrolling, 18% above this list's average, and net price runs $26,182 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #17
The University of Texas at Tyler lands at #17 with a 100/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by academic quality (69/100). Graduates earn a median $57,053 a decade after enrolling, 21% above this list's average, and net price runs $13,323 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #18
Temple College lands at #18 with a 100/100 composite, led by social mobility (91/100) and pulled down by academic quality (56/100). Graduates earn a median $38,678 a decade after enrolling, 18% below this list's average, and net price runs $10,682 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #19
Nelson University lands at #19 with a 100/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (59/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (48/100). Graduates earn a median $46,238 a decade after enrolling, 2% below this list's average, and net price runs $21,662 a year, above the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #20
Lone Star College System lands at #20 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (79/100) and pulled down by social mobility (47/100). Graduates earn a median $42,466 a decade after enrolling, 10% below this list's average, and net price runs $11,252 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #21
Our Lady of the Lake University lands at #21 with a 100/100 composite, led by social mobility (85/100) and pulled down by academic quality (52/100). Graduates earn a median $48,675 a decade after enrolling, 3% above this list's average, and net price runs $16,442 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #22
University of Houston-Downtown lands at #22 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (71/100) and pulled down by academic quality (53/100). Graduates earn a median $53,551 a decade after enrolling, 14% above this list's average, and net price runs $10,542 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #23
South Plains College lands at #23 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (83/100) and pulled down by academic quality (46/100). Graduates earn a median $41,276 a decade after enrolling, 12% below this list's average, and net price runs $6,791 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #24
Midwestern State University lands at #24 with a 100/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by academic quality (62/100). Graduates earn a median $55,747 a decade after enrolling, 18% above this list's average, and net price runs $11,656 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #25
Sam Houston State University lands at #25 with a 100/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (60/100). Graduates earn a median $54,211 a decade after enrolling, 15% above this list's average, and net price runs $16,404 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #26
Vernon College lands at #26 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (81/100) and pulled down by academic quality (41/100). Graduates earn a median $40,464 a decade after enrolling, 14% below this list's average, and net price runs $6,404 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #27
San Jacinto Community College lands at #27 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (79/100) and pulled down by academic quality (43/100). Graduates earn a median $43,062 a decade after enrolling, 9% below this list's average, and net price runs $12,143 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #28
Houston Christian University lands at #28 with a 100/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (67/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (50/100). Graduates earn a median $55,933 a decade after enrolling, 19% above this list's average, and net price runs $20,629 a year, above the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #29
Houston City College lands at #29 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (82/100) and pulled down by academic quality (38/100). Graduates earn a median $39,254 a decade after enrolling, 17% below this list's average, and net price runs $5,737 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #30
Navarro College lands at #30 with a 100/100 composite, led by social mobility (76/100) and pulled down by academic quality (36/100). Graduates earn a median $38,716 a decade after enrolling, 18% below this list's average, and net price runs $14,820 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #31
Texas A&M University-Texarkana lands at #31 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (65/100) and pulled down by academic quality (55/100). Graduates earn a median $45,515 a decade after enrolling, 3% below this list's average, and net price runs $12,997 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #32
Southwestern Adventist University lands at #32 with a 100/100 composite, led by social mobility (85/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (49/100). Graduates earn a median $52,946 a decade after enrolling, 12% above this list's average, and net price runs $22,778 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #33
Tarleton State University lands at #33 with a 100/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (57/100). Graduates earn a median $53,040 a decade after enrolling, 12% above this list's average, and net price runs $20,783 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #34
University of the Incarnate Word lands at #34 with a 100/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (48/100). Graduates earn a median $56,733 a decade after enrolling, 20% above this list's average, and net price runs $22,775 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #35
Kilgore College lands at #35 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (82/100) and pulled down by academic quality (51/100). Graduates earn a median $37,975 a decade after enrolling, 19% below this list's average, and net price runs $5,364 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Edinburg, TX · 94% accepted · $4,831 net
Why it ranks #36
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley lands at #36 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (83/100) and pulled down by social mobility (57/100). Graduates earn a median $49,620 a decade after enrolling, 5% above this list's average, and net price runs $4,831 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #37
Howard College lands at #37 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (86/100) and pulled down by social mobility (45/100). Graduates earn a median $38,382 a decade after enrolling, 19% below this list's average, and net price runs $6,147 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #38
Texas A & M International University lands at #38 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (83/100) and pulled down by academic quality (54/100). Graduates earn a median $48,386 a decade after enrolling, 3% above this list's average, and net price runs $3,637 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #39
Angelo State University lands at #39 with a 100/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by academic quality (63/100). Graduates earn a median $50,116 a decade after enrolling, 6% above this list's average, and net price runs $15,091 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #40
Tarrant County College District lands at #40 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (89/100) and pulled down by academic quality (53/100). Graduates earn a median $42,727 a decade after enrolling, 9% below this list's average, and net price runs $4,337 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #41
Wharton County Junior College lands at #41 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (89/100) and pulled down by academic quality (53/100). Graduates earn a median $44,960 a decade after enrolling, 5% below this list's average, and net price runs $4,666 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #42
Amarillo College lands at #42 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (84/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (62/100). Graduates earn a median $41,302 a decade after enrolling, 12% below this list's average, and net price runs $4,600 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #43
Schreiner University lands at #43 with a 100/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (48/100). Graduates earn a median $52,228 a decade after enrolling, 11% above this list's average, and net price runs $21,507 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #44
University of St Thomas lands at #44 with a 100/100 composite, led by academic quality (79/100) and pulled down by social mobility (42/100). Graduates earn a median $59,224 a decade after enrolling, 26% above this list's average, and net price runs $19,359 a year, above the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #45
Collin County Community College District lands at #45 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (84/100) and pulled down by academic quality (38/100). Graduates earn a median $48,701 a decade after enrolling, 3% above this list's average, and net price runs $8,969 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #46
Weatherford College lands at #46 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (79/100) and pulled down by academic quality (60/100). Graduates earn a median $42,397 a decade after enrolling, 10% below this list's average, and net price runs $9,967 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #47
Tyler Junior College lands at #47 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (77/100) and pulled down by academic quality (52/100). Graduates earn a median $38,140 a decade after enrolling, 19% below this list's average, and net price runs $10,206 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #48
Dallas Baptist University lands at #48 with a 100/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (45/100). Graduates earn a median $56,807 a decade after enrolling, 20% above this list's average, and net price runs $28,516 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #49
University of North Texas at Dallas lands at #49 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (77/100) and pulled down by social mobility (49/100). Net price runs $6,420 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #50
South Texas College lands at #50 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (97/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (29/100). Graduates earn a median $36,788 a decade after enrolling, 22% below this list's average, and net price runs $1,751 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Cut it by what you care about
The same 50 schools, re-ranked by the outcome that matters to you.
Where the programs are
This ranking scores 50 institutions on graduation rates, graduate earnings, debt burdens, and social mobility data from Opportunity Insights. Every data point comes from federal sources. No surveys, no opinions.
Social mobility carries the heaviest weight in our algorithm. We use Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card — built on 30 million anonymized tax records — to measure whether a college changes a family's economic trajectory across generations. Schools that take low-income students and launch them into higher earnings rank higher than schools that admit wealthy students and take credit for their success.
The transparency penalty matters here. Schools that don't report their data get scored lower than schools that do. If an institution won't show you its numbers, we think you should know that before you write them a tuition check.
The story behind the ranking
A ranking gives you an order; these charts give you the shape. They show how this group of schools spreads across the four things that decide whether a degree pays off — what graduates earn, whether they finish, how far they move up, and what it costs. Look for the standouts, the outliers, and the trade-offs the list alone can't show.
Earnings Outcomes
What graduates earn 10 years after enrolling. Data from College Scorecard.
Distribution of Median Earnings
Earnings vs. Net Price
Top-left = best value. Top-ranked schools are highlighted.
Completion & Access
Graduation rates and who gets in. Data from College Scorecard & IPEDS.
Graduation Rates
Pell Grant Rate vs. Graduation Rate
Right = more low-income students. Higher = more graduate.
What the Mobility Data Says
Social mobility carries the heaviest weight in this ranking, and the measure comes from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built from more than 30 million anonymized tax records. Across the 36 schools here with that data, the average mobility rate is 2.3%. That figure is the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top. South Texas College leads the group at 6.9%, with Sul Ross State University (5.2%) and Odessa College (4.7%) close behind.
Access varies widely. On average, 13.9% of students at these schools come from families in the bottom income quintile. South Texas College enrolls the most, at 52.4%, a sign it is reaching the students mobility is meant to lift. A high mobility rate paired with strong access is the combination that changes a generation's trajectory.
For the low-income students who do enroll, the success rate (the odds of reaching the top quintile) averages 17.9% across the list, peaking at 44.7% at East Texas A&M University.
These campuses can also be measured on social capital: the cross-class friendships Opportunity Insights links to long-run economic outcomes. Economic connectedness here averages 1.35, where about 1.0 is the national norm, and Dallas Baptist University is highest at 1.77.
Mobility, access, and social-capital figures from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card & the Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas.
Cost & Debt
What families actually pay and what students owe. Data from College Scorecard.
Median Debt at Graduation
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Texas: Your Questions, Answered
What is the #1 school in the Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Texas ranking? +
Lamar University in Beaumont, TX ranks #1 in our 2026 Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Texas ranking. It earns the top spot on the strength of a median $49,652 in graduate earnings ten years after enrollment and a 37% graduation rate. Our score is built entirely from federal data on graduation rates, graduate earnings, debt, and social mobility. Reputation surveys play no part.
Which school has the highest graduate earnings? +
The University of Texas at Arlington posts the highest median earnings on this list: $63,199 ten years after enrollment, well above the $47,156 average across the 49 ranked schools with earnings data. Earnings that outpace cost are what separate a degree that pays off from one that does not.
Which school offers the best value? +
On a pure return-on-cost basis, South Texas College leads: graduates earn a median $36,788 against net price of about $1,751 a year, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio in the ranking. Applicants should weigh that payback against sticker price rather than prestige.
Which school has the highest graduation rate? +
University of St Thomas has the highest graduation rate in this ranking at 69%, compared with a 37% average across the list. Completion matters because the students who finish are the ones who actually capture the earnings and mobility gains a degree promises.
How much does it cost to attend these schools? +
The average net price, meaning what students actually pay after grants and scholarships, is about $11,999 a year across the 50 ranked schools with cost data. South Texas College is among the most affordable at roughly $1,751. Net price is a far better guide to affordability than the published sticker price.
How is the Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Texas ranking calculated? +
We score every school on a four-pillar algorithm: economic outcomes (graduate earnings and debt), social mobility (Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built on more than 30 million anonymized tax records), academic quality (graduation and retention), and value (net price and loan burden). Social mobility carries the heaviest weight, so schools that lift low-income students into higher earnings rank above those that simply admit wealthy students. Every input comes from federal data, and schools that withhold their numbers are scored lower for it.
How many schools are ranked and where does the data come from? +
This ranking evaluates 50 institutions using the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, the Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card and Social Capital Atlas, Times Higher Education, and NCES IPEDS. There are no opinion surveys or paid placements. The order is determined by the data alone and refreshed as new federal figures are released.
Sources & Citations
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