Criminal Justice and Corrections at The University of Texas at Arlington

UTA's Criminal Justice program delivers exactly what you'd hope for from a large public university: solid outcomes without crushing debt. Starting earnings of $40,577 land graduates well above both the Texas median ($35,862) and national average ($37,856), placing this program in the 60th percentile statewide. More importantly, debt of just under $20,000 is nearly $6,000 below what similar Texas programs typically burden students with, creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.49—meaning graduates could theoretically pay off their loans with half their first year's salary.

The earnings trajectory strengthens the case here. That 23% growth from year one to year four, reaching nearly $50,000, suggests graduates aren't stuck in dead-end positions. They're advancing into better-paying roles, whether that's moving from patrol officer to detective, entry-level corrections to administration, or probation officer to supervisor. While UTA doesn't crack the top five in Texas for criminal justice earnings, it substantially outperforms most alternatives at a fraction of the debt load.

For an accessible program (81% admission rate) serving a diverse student body (40% Pell recipients), these numbers represent strong value. Your child won't be starting their career underwater financially, and the robust sample size means these figures are reliable. If they're committed to law enforcement, corrections, or related fields, this represents a practical pathway in without the financial stress many criminal justice programs impose.