Location: Stephenville, TX•In-State Tuition: $7,878•Out-of-State Tuition: $17,958•Admission Rate: 94%•Avg SAT: 1068
Median Earnings (1yr)
$43,186
80th percentile
60th percentile in Texas
Median Debt
$23,250
11% below national median
D/E Ratio: 0.54 ManageableSample: 176 graduates

Analysis

Tarleton State's Criminal Justice program punches above its weight class. With first-year earnings of $43,186, graduates here outperform 80% of Criminal Justice programs nationally—impressive for a school with a 94% admission rate and modest SAT scores. In Texas specifically, this places them at the 60th percentile, sitting just behind Texas A&M-Central Texas but well ahead of the state median of $35,862. The debt load of $23,250 is also below both national and state averages, creating a manageable 0.54 debt-to-earnings ratio that most graduates can handle comfortably.

The trajectory looks solid too, with earnings climbing to $49,034 by year four—a 14% bump that suggests graduates are building viable law enforcement and corrections careers. This isn't the flashiest criminal justice program in Texas (Wayland Baptist tops the state at $53,038), but it delivers competitive outcomes at a lower cost than most alternatives. For students who want to enter public safety fields without taking on excessive debt, this represents a practical path forward.

The bottom line: Tarleton offers above-average career outcomes in a field where many programs struggle to justify their cost. Given the manageable debt and reliable earnings, families can feel reasonably confident their investment will pay off, especially if the student is committed to a career in law enforcement or corrections.

Where Tarleton State University Stands

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

Tarleton State UniversityOther criminal justice and corrections programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How Tarleton State University graduates compare to all programs nationally

Tarleton State University earns $43k — 80th percentile among criminal justice and corrections bachelors programs.

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
Tarleton State University$43,186$49,034+14%
Texas Christian University$34,556$61,238+77%
Hardin-Simmons University$39,445$52,024+32%
Angelo State University$35,955$51,462+43%
University of Houston-Downtown$42,122$50,850+21%

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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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Tarleton State UniversityStephenville$7,878$43,186$49,034$23,2500.54
Wayland Baptist UniversityPlainview$23,186$53,038$47,490$25,0000.47
University of Phoenix-TexasDallas—$47,987$44,185$46,9890.98
Texas A&M University-Central TexasKilleen$6,627$45,976$33,511$24,7500.54
Texas Wesleyan UniversityFort Worth$37,934$44,328$44,073$26,0000.59
Lamar UniversityBeaumont$8,690$43,707$50,559$31,0000.71
National Median—$37,856—$26,1300.69

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 Tarleton State University, approximately 37% 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.

Sample Size: Based on 176 graduates with reported earnings and 199 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.