Criminal Justice and Corrections at Texas Southern University

Texas Southern's Criminal Justice program starts slowly but shows remarkable improvement—though you'll need to weather a challenging first year earning just under $30,000 while carrying $36,250 in debt. That initial period is tough: at the 5th percentile nationally, these are among the lowest starting salaries you'll find for this degree anywhere in the country.

The good news is the trajectory. By year four, earnings nearly double to $48,415, eventually exceeding both state and national medians for the field. This pattern makes sense at an HBCU serving primarily lower-income students (71% receive Pell grants), where many graduates likely prioritize any immediate job over optimal career placement, then advance through experience. Among Texas criminal justice programs, the first-year earnings still lag—ranking only in the 25th percentile statewide, well behind leaders like Wayland Baptist ($53,000) or Texas A&M-Central Texas ($46,000).

The core question is whether your child can manage that difficult first year financially. With debt exceeding first-year earnings by $6,500, loan payments will strain an already tight budget. If they have family support to bridge that gap or can secure a position with career advancement potential from day one, the later earnings growth justifies the investment. But if they need financial independence immediately after graduation, programs with stronger initial placement records would reduce that early-career stress considerably.