Best Online Master’s in Criminal Justice in Texas

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An online master’s in criminal justice can provide you with the knowledge base and educational requirements to pursue or advance your career in criminal justice. Earning a degree online is a flexible and affordable way to gain the education you need on your own terms. Study from home and on your own schedule, while still getting the full educational experience.

Finding a master’s in criminal justice online in Texas helps Texans find the most affordable programs at colleges and universities they and employers know and trust.

Graduates holding a master’s degree in criminal justice find advanced employment in areas including law enforcement, cyber security, emergency management, crime scene investigation, and corrections. These programs cover key aspects of the field necessary for career advancement, including criminology, law and ethics, policy analysis, and crime prevention. Some programs include concentrations in areas like cybercrime or security management. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, police officers and detectives earn a median annual salary of $63,380.

Texas ranks 4th in the nation for law enforcement professionals per capita with a typical need of approximately 250 full-time positions needing to be filled at any time. In Texas, criminal justice jobs in law enforcement are growing at nearly 17%, well over the national average of 5% job growth for all occupations. Furthermore, in Texas, police and sheriff office patrol officers have starting wages of $42,000/year, with 50% of the workforce making nearly $62,000/year.

Detectives and Criminal Investigators Career Prospects in Texas
Job Growth by 2026 6%
Annual Job Growth 0.9%
Average Wage (Mean):
$79,949
Entry Level Wage:
$49,338
Median Wage:
$82,264
Experienced Wage:
$95,255
Sources: the Texas Workforce Commission’s Texas Labor Market Information Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages Report and the Texas Workforce Commission’s Texas Labor Market Information Employment Projections 2016-2026 Report

Find your online master degree in criminal justice in TX

Study confidently at a quality institution in Texas where you know you will receive training relevant to Texas laws and regulations, and with attention to current affairs in Texas. Finding an online degree at a regionally accredited college or university will help ensure not only the acceptance of your degree by hiring professionals, but it will enable you to pursue an advanced degree should you someday want to take your education to the next level.

Here’s our list of online master’s degrees in criminal offered by regionally accredited colleges and universities in Texas. Sort to find the best, most affordable, and best value online colleges for criminal justice degrees.

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    1. Texas A&M University

      College Station, TX

      Program Score

      99

      TX Relative Cost

      Key Facts Answers
      Total Enrollment 68,726 (3% fully online)
      Public or Private Public
      Number of Online Programs 13
      Accreditation Regional: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
      Average In-State Undergraduate Tuition $12,153 per year
      Net Cost by Income
      Source: National Center for Educational Statistics

      TexasOnlineColleges.com Awards

      Adult Student Friendly School
      Experienced Online School
      Disability Friendly SchoolFirst-Generation Student Friendly School
      Degree Credits Needed Completion Time1
      MS - Criminal Justice 36 2-3 years
      See TAMU’s full list of online degrees!

    2. Texas Christian University

      Fort Worth, TX

      Program Score

      97

      TX Relative Cost

      Key Facts Answers
      Total Enrollment 11,024 (2% fully online)
      Public or Private Private Non-Profit
      Number of Online Programs 17
      Accreditation Regional: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
      Average In-State Undergraduate Tuition $49,250 per year
      Net Cost by Income
      Source: National Center for Educational Statistics

      TexasOnlineColleges.com Awards

      Adult Student Friendly School
      Experienced Online School
      Disability Friendly SchoolFirst-Generation Student Friendly School
      Degree Credits Needed Completion Time1
      MS - Criminal Justice 36 2-3 years
      See TCU’s full list of online degrees!

    3. University of North Texas

      Denton, TX

      Program Score

      89

      TX Relative Cost

      Key Facts Answers
      Total Enrollment 39,336 (10% fully online)
      Public or Private Public
      Number of Online Programs 63
      Accreditation Regional: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
      Average In-State Undergraduate Tuition $11,044 per year
      Net Cost by Income
      Source: National Center for Educational Statistics

      TexasOnlineColleges.com Awards

      #3 Best Texas Online CollegeA Most Affordable Texas Online College #6 Best Value Texas Online CollegeAdult Student Friendly School
      Experienced Online School
      First-Generation Student Friendly School
      Degree Credits Needed Completion Time1
      MS - Criminal Justice, Justice Policy and Admin. 36 2-3 years
      See UNT’s full list of online degrees!

    4. Sam Houston State University

      Huntsville, TX

      Program Score

      88

      TX Relative Cost

      Key Facts Answers
      Total Enrollment 21,558 (17% fully online)
      Public or Private Public
      Number of Online Programs 72
      Accreditation Regional: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
      Average In-State Undergraduate Tuition $8,536 per year
      Net Cost by Income
      Source: National Center for Educational Statistics

      TexasOnlineColleges.com Awards

      #5 Best Texas Online College#8 Most Affordable Texas Online College#3 Best Value Texas Online CollegeAdult Student Friendly School
      Experienced Online School
      First-Generation Student Friendly School
      Degree Credits Needed Completion Time1
      MS - Criminal Justice Leadership and Management 36 2-3 years
      MS - Criminal Justice 36 2-3 years
      MS - Digital Forensics 36 2-3 years
      MS - Victim Services Management 36 2-3 years
      See SHSU’s full list of online degrees!

    5. Angelo State University

      San Angelo, TX

      Program Score

      83

      TX Relative Cost

      Key Facts Answers
      Total Enrollment 10,568 (14% fully online)
      Public or Private Public
      USDE Special Government Status Hispanic-Serving Institution
      Number of Online Programs 39
      Accreditation Regional: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
      Average In-State Undergraduate Tuition $7,637 per year
      Net Cost by Income
      Source: National Center for Educational Statistics

      TexasOnlineColleges.com Awards

      Top Texas Online College #4 Most Affordable Texas Online College#4 Best Value Texas Online CollegeAdult Student Friendly School
      Experienced Online School
      First-Generation Student Friendly SchoolHispanic-Serving Institution
      Degree Credits Needed Completion Time1
      MS - Criminal Justice 36 2-3 years
      See ASU’s full list of online degrees!

    6. University of Texas at Tyler

      Tyler, TX

      Program Score

      83

      TX Relative Cost

      Key Facts Answers
      Total Enrollment 9,617 (27% fully online)
      Public or Private Public
      Number of Online Programs 27
      Accreditation Regional: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
      Average In-State Undergraduate Tuition $8,742 per year
      Net Cost by Income
      Source: National Center for Educational Statistics

      TexasOnlineColleges.com Awards

      Top Texas Online College #9 Most Affordable Texas Online College#9 Best Value Texas Online CollegeAdult Student Friendly School
      Experienced Online School
      Disability Friendly SchoolFirst-Generation Student Friendly SchoolMilitary Friendly School
      Degree Credits Needed Completion Time1
      MS - Criminal Justice 36 2-3 years
      See UTT’s full list of online degrees!

    7. Lamar University

      Beaumont, TX

      Program Score

      82

      TX Relative Cost

      Key Facts Answers
      Total Enrollment 15,460 (54% fully online)
      Public or Private Public
      Number of Online Programs 43
      Accreditation Regional: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
      Average In-State Undergraduate Tuition $8,494 per year
      Net Cost by Income
      Source: National Center for Educational Statistics

      TexasOnlineColleges.com Awards

      Top Texas Online College #7 Most Affordable Texas Online College#7 Best Value Texas Online CollegeAdult Student Friendly School
      Experienced Online School
      Disability Friendly SchoolFirst-Generation Student Friendly School
      Degree Credits Needed Completion Time1
      MBA - Criminal Justice Management 36 2-3 years
      MS - Criminal Justice 30 2-3 years
      See LU’s full list of online degrees!

    8. Dallas Baptist University

      Dallas, TX

      Dallas Baptist University’s school logo

      Program Score

      82

      TX Relative Cost

      Key Facts Answers
      Total Enrollment 4,487 (15% fully online)
      Public or Private Private Non-Profit
      Number of Online Programs 97
      Accreditation Regional: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
      Average In-State Undergraduate Tuition $30,320 per year
      Net Cost by Income
      Source: National Center for Educational Statistics

      TexasOnlineColleges.com Awards

      #4 Best Texas Online CollegeA Best Value Texas Online College Adult Student Friendly School
      Experienced Online School
      Disability Friendly SchoolFirst-Generation Student Friendly School
      Degree Credits Needed Completion Time1
      MA - Professional Development: Criminal Justice 36 2-3 years
      See DBU’s full list of online degrees!

    9. University of the Incarnate Word

      San Antonio, TX

      Program Score

      81

      TX Relative Cost

      Key Facts Answers
      Total Enrollment 8,175 (19% fully online)
      Public or Private Private Non-Profit
      USDE Special Government Status Hispanic-Serving Institution
      Number of Online Programs 32
      Accreditation Regional: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
      Average In-State Undergraduate Tuition $32,576 per year
      Net Cost by Income
      Source: National Center for Educational Statistics

      TexasOnlineColleges.com Awards

      Top Texas Online College Adult Student Friendly School
      Experienced Online School
      Disability Friendly SchoolFirst-Generation Student Friendly SchoolHispanic-Serving Institution
      Degree Credits Needed Completion Time1
      MAA - Administration: Criminal Justice Leadership 30 2-3 years
      See UIW’s full list of online degrees!

    10. University of Houston–Downtown

      Houston, TX

      Program Score

      79

      TX Relative Cost

      Key Facts Answers
      Total Enrollment 14,640 (20% fully online)
      Public or Private Public
      USDE Special Government Status Hispanic-Serving Institution
      Number of Online Programs 19
      Accreditation Regional: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
      Average In-State Undergraduate Tuition $6,788 per year
      Net Cost by Income
      Source: National Center for Educational Statistics

      TexasOnlineColleges.com Awards

      #3 Most Affordable Texas Online College#10 Best Value Texas Online CollegeAdult Student Friendly School
      Experienced Online School
      First-Generation Student Friendly SchoolHispanic-Serving Institution
      Degree Credits Needed Completion Time1
      MS - ???Criminal Justice 36 2-3 years
      See UHD’s full list of online degrees!

    11. Texas Southern University

      Houston, TX

      Program Score

      75

      TX Relative Cost

      Key Facts Answers
      Total Enrollment 9,034 (7% fully online)
      Public or Private Public
      USDE Special Government Status Historically Black College and University
      Number of Online Programs 10
      Accreditation Regional: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
      Average In-State Undergraduate Tuition $9,173 per year
      Net Cost by Income
      Source: National Center for Educational Statistics

      TexasOnlineColleges.com Awards

      A Most Affordable Texas Online College A Best Value Texas Online College Adult Student Friendly School
      Experienced Online School
      First-Generation Student Friendly SchoolHistorically Black College and University
      Degree Credits Needed Completion Time1
      MAJ - Executive Master of Administration of Justice 36 2-3 years
      See TSU’s full list of online degrees!

    Published: .


    An institution’s program specfic score is calculated with seven data points: (1) its student-to-faculty ratio, (2) its number of degrees an institution awards in the program's field each year, (3) its the graduation rate, (4) its the retention rate, (5) its the percentage of online students, (6) its concentrated Influence (a measure of the academic importance of a school), and (7) its desirability (a measure of how many students chose to go to an institution).
     
    For each data point, we score schools based on where they fall in the percentile distribution for that data point. Because our scores are based on local data and not tied to irrelevant national data, they accurately reflect an institutions’s value to the Texas student. Institutions with missing data receive a zero for that data point.
     
    We weigh each data point and calculate an institution’s raw score. Then we create an adjusted raw score by combining a schools's score with a base score of 50. Finally, we score and rank institutions based on their adjusted score’s percentile rank.
     
    Check out our detailed methodology here.

    We weren’t able to get all the data we needed for this institution. This score is based on the information they have reported.
     
    An institution’s program specfic score is calculated with seven data points: (1) its student-to-faculty ratio, (2) its number of degrees an institution awards in the program's field each year, (3) its the graduation rate, (4) its the retention rate, (5) its the percentage of online students, (6) its concentrated Influence (a measure of the academic importance of a school), and (7) its desirability (a measure of how many students chose to go to an institution).
     
    For each data point, we score schools based on where they fall in the percentile distribution for that data point. Because our scores are based on local data and not tied to irrelevant national data, they accurately reflect an institutions’s value to the Texas student. Institutions with missing data receive a zero for that data point.
     
    We weigh each data point and calculate an institution’s raw score. Then we create an adjusted raw score by combining a schools's score with a base score of 50. Finally, we score and rank institutions based on their adjusted score’s percentile rank.
     
    Check out our detailed methodology here.

    Focused on online colleges in TX, our relative cost score compares the average in-state tuitions of Texas schools. In general, Texas is slightly cheaper than the national average of $9,970 (according to The National Center for Education Statistics) for a degree at a public 4-year college or university. However, Texas is home to some of the most affordable colleges and universities in the US, and it’s most expensive schools are tens of thousands cheaper than the most expensive schools in the country.
     
    Check out our detailed methodology here.