Criminal Justice and Corrections at El Paso Community College

El Paso Community College's Criminal Justice program graduates face a challenging earnings reality despite remarkably low debt. Starting at just under $26,000 and reaching $31,500 after four years, these graduates earn significantly less than their peers across Texas—where the median program graduate makes $31,344 right out of the gate. The gap with stronger Texas programs is even starker: Dallas College and Austin Community College graduates earn over $37,000 initially, a difference of more than $11,000 annually that compounds over time.

The one bright spot here is debt: at just over $6,000, graduates carry less than half the typical burden for this program in Texas. That low debt load means the financial stress is manageable—the debt-to-earnings ratio is quite favorable at 0.24. But minimal debt doesn't transform weak earnings into a strong investment. Even with 22% earnings growth over four years, graduates remain well below what peers at other Texas community colleges achieve immediately after graduation.

For parents, the calculus is straightforward: this program offers an affordable path but not a lucrative one. If your child is committed to criminal justice work in the El Paso area and needs to minimize debt, this could work. But if stronger earnings matter—and they should—look closely at programs like Dallas College or Austin Community College where graduates start $6,000-$11,000 higher and maintain that advantage.