Criminal Justice and Corrections at Texas College

At $39,423 in debt against first-year earnings of $34,386, Texas College graduates face a challenging financial equation that gets worse over time—earnings actually drop to $29,801 by year four. While this program lands near the middle of Texas Criminal Justice programs (40th percentile), its debt load sits in the 9th percentile nationally, meaning 91% of similar programs leave students with less debt. For comparison, the state median debt is $25,834—Texas College's graduates carry about $13,600 more.

The 85% Pell Grant rate indicates this serves predominantly low-income students, making that debt burden particularly concerning. When graduates need to dedicate roughly 14 months of earnings just to cover student loans, it limits their ability to build financial stability early in their careers. The backwards earnings trajectory—losing 13% in income between years one and four—suggests either job market challenges or graduates moving into lower-paying roles as they gain experience, neither a promising sign.

The small sample size here (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift significantly year to year, so there's some uncertainty. However, even accounting for that variability, the combination of above-average debt and below-average earnings creates a difficult starting position. Texas families have numerous stronger options: Wayland Baptist graduates earn $53,038 in this field, nearly double what Texas College grads make four years out. Unless there are compelling non-financial reasons to choose this program, the debt burden relative to career outcomes presents a real risk.