Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degree) at McMurry University

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$35,862

Est. from TX median (47 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$28,000

Est. from TX median (15 programs)

Analysis

A $28,000 debt load might seem manageable at first glance, but when earnings from similar Texas criminal justice programs hover around $36,000, you're looking at nearly 80% of first-year income needed to cover that debt. That's above the conventional threshold where education debt becomes a strain rather than an investment. While the estimated figures for McMurry come from peer programs across Texas—not actual outcomes from this campus—they reflect a broader pattern in the field: criminal justice bachelor's degrees rarely command premium salaries early in careers.

The gap between McMurry's likely outcomes and the state's top performers is striking. Several Texas schools place criminal justice graduates into jobs paying $45,000-$53,000 within a year, suggesting that institutional connections and regional job markets matter enormously in this field. Abilene's smaller job market may limit local opportunities in law enforcement and corrections compared to larger metro areas where those higher-earning programs are located.

For families banking on criminal justice leading to stable, middle-class earnings, these estimates suggest caution. Your child would need either exceptional career planning—securing federal positions or moving to higher-paying markets—or minimal debt through scholarships to make this work financially. Ask McMurry directly about job placement rates and what percentage of graduates actually land positions in their target careers before committing.

Where McMurry University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all criminal justice and corrections bachelors's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Texas

Criminal Justice and Corrections bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Texas (62 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
McMurry UniversityAbilene	$31,372	$35,862*	—	$28,000*	—
Wayland Baptist UniversityPlainview	$23,186	$53,038*	$47,490	$25,000*	0.47
University of Phoenix-TexasDallas	—	$47,987*	$44,185	$46,989*	0.98
Texas A&M University-Central TexasKilleen	$6,627	$45,976*	$33,511	$24,750*	0.54
Texas Wesleyan UniversityFort Worth	$37,934	$44,328*	$44,073	$26,000*	0.59
Lamar UniversityBeaumont	$8,690	$43,707*	$50,559	$31,000*	0.71
National Median	—	$37,856*	—	$26,130*	0.69

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with criminal justice and corrections graduates

Financial Examiners

Enforce or ensure compliance with laws and regulations governing financial and securities institutions and financial and real estate transactions. May examine, verify, or authenticate records.

$90,400/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Emergency Management Directors

Plan and direct disaster response or crisis management activities, provide disaster preparedness training, and prepare emergency plans and procedures for natural (e.g., hurricanes, floods, earthquakes), wartime, or technological (e.g., nuclear power plant emergencies or hazardous materials spills) disasters or hostage situations.

$86,130/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in criminal justice, corrections, and law enforcement administration. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Compliance Officers

Examine, evaluate, and investigate eligibility for or conformity with laws and regulations governing contract compliance of licenses and permits, and perform other compliance and enforcement inspection and analysis activities not classified elsewhere.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Environmental Compliance Inspectors

Inspect and investigate sources of pollution to protect the public and environment and ensure conformance with Federal, State, and local regulations and ordinances.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers

Monitor and evaluate compliance with equal opportunity laws, guidelines, and policies to ensure that employment practices and contracting arrangements give equal opportunity without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Government Property Inspectors and Investigators

Investigate or inspect government property to ensure compliance with contract agreements and government regulations.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Regulatory Affairs Specialists

Coordinate and document internal regulatory processes, such as internal audits, inspections, license renewals, or registrations. May compile and prepare materials for submission to regulatory agencies.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Customs Brokers

Prepare customs documentation and ensure that shipments meet all applicable laws to facilitate the import and export of goods. Determine and track duties and taxes payable and process payments on behalf of client. Sign documents under a power of attorney. Represent clients in meetings with customs officials and apply for duty refunds and tariff reclassifications. Coordinate transportation and storage of imported goods.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Detectives and Criminal Investigators

Conduct investigations related to suspected violations of federal, state, or local laws to prevent or solve crimes.

$77,270/yrJobs growth:

Police Identification and Records Officers

Collect evidence at crime scene, classify and identify fingerprints, and photograph evidence for use in criminal and civil cases.

$77,270/yrJobs growth:

Intelligence Analysts

Gather, analyze, or evaluate information from a variety of sources, such as law enforcement databases, surveillance, intelligence networks or geographic information systems. Use intelligence data to anticipate and prevent organized crime activities, such as terrorism.

$77,270/yrJobs growth:

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At McMurry University, approximately 45% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 47 similar programs in TX. Actual outcomes may vary.