Criminal Justice and Corrections at Stephen F Austin State University

Stephen F. Austin State University's Criminal Justice program lands solidly in the middle of Texas options, with four-year earnings of $45,972 placing it in the 60th percentile statewide. That's about $10,000 above the state median and $8,000 above the national benchmark—respectable performance for a program at an accessible state university with an 88% admission rate.

The debt picture looks reasonable at first glance—$23,250 is below both state and national medians for this field. However, that 0.58 debt-to-earnings ratio reflects a broader reality of criminal justice degrees: they don't produce high salaries. Starting at $40,308 means graduates will likely be dedicating a meaningful chunk of their early paychecks to loan payments, even with moderate debt. The 14% earnings growth over four years is solid but doesn't dramatically change the financial equation.

For parents considering this program, the key question is whether their child is committed to public service work that won't deliver private-sector compensation. Stephen F. Austin performs better than most Texas schools in this field, but even the top programs struggle to break $55,000. If law enforcement or corrections is the goal, this represents a cost-effective path. If your child is exploring options and might pivot to business or another field, understand that transferring out of criminal justice later means starting over—and this degree won't open high-earning doors in other sectors.