Est. Earnings (1yr)
$35,862
Est. from TX median (47 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$28,000
Est. from TX median (15 programs)

Analysis

Texas criminal justice programs show a wide earnings range, from the mid-$30,000s to over $50,000 annually. Based on comparable programs across the state, North American University's graduates likely earn around $35,900 in their first yearβ€”roughly $2,000 below the national median and tracking at the lower end of what Texas schools produce. For context, top performers in the state like Wayland Baptist report graduates earning over $53,000, nearly 50% more than what similar programs suggest for this school.

The estimated debt load of $28,000 creates a manageable but tight ratio of 0.78 to first-year earnings. This means about nine months of gross pay would go toward the full debtβ€”workable on paper, but challenging in practice given that criminal justice salaries in this range often require careful budgeting. With half the student body receiving Pell grants, many families here are counting on post-graduation earnings to justify the investment.

The practical concern is that peer programs in Texas suggest this degree leads to entry-level earnings that leave little margin for error. If criminal justice is the goal, families should understand they're looking at a competitive field where the school you attend appears to matter significantly for starting salary. The $17,000 gap between estimated outcomes here and top Texas programs represents real purchasing power in early career years.

Where North American 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)

Scroll to see more β†’

SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
North American UniversityStafford$12,836$35,862*β€”$28,000*β€”
Wayland Baptist UniversityPlainview$23,186$53,038*$47,490$25,000*0.47
University of Phoenix-TexasDallasβ€”$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 Medianβ€”$37,856*β€”$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 North American University, approximately 51% 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.