Location: San Marcos, TX•In-State Tuition: $11,450•Out-of-State Tuition: $23,210•Admission Rate: 89%•Avg SAT: 1093
Median Earnings (1yr)
$36,117
38th percentile
60th percentile in Texas
Median Debt
$19,500
25% below national median
D/E Ratio: 0.54 ManageableSample: 401 graduates

Analysis

Texas State's criminal justice program shows impressive earning momentum despite a modest start. While graduates begin at $36,117—below the national average—they see strong 28% growth to reach $46,095 by year four, ultimately outpacing most peers. Among Texas programs, this ranks in the 60th percentile, placing it solidly in the middle of the pack within the state's competitive landscape.

The debt picture is particularly attractive. At $19,500, students graduate with significantly less debt than both the national ($26,130) and Texas ($25,834) medians for this field. This creates a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.54, meaning students can realistically pay off loans without financial strain. The low debt burden is especially valuable given criminal justice careers often prioritize job security and benefits over high starting salaries.

However, it's worth noting that even after strong growth, four-year earnings still trail top Texas programs like Wayland Baptist ($53,038) by a meaningful margin. For families prioritizing immediate earning potential, higher-performing alternatives exist. That said, Texas State offers a solid middle-ground option: reasonable debt, steady career progression, and access to Texas's robust law enforcement job market. The combination of manageable costs and reliable growth trajectory makes this a financially sensible choice for students committed to criminal justice careers.

Where Texas State University Stands

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

Texas State UniversityOther criminal justice and corrections programs

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

Earnings Distribution

How Texas State University graduates compare to all programs nationally

Texas State University earns $36k — 38th 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
Texas State University$36,117$46,095+28%
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
Texas State UniversitySan Marcos$11,450$36,117$46,095$19,5000.54
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 Texas State University, approximately 36% 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 401 graduates with reported earnings and 429 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.