Criminology at The University of Texas at Dallas

UT Dallas's criminology program punches well above its weight, outearning every other criminology program in Texas by at least $5,000 annually—a significant margin that places it in the state's 60th percentile and national 75th percentile. At $40,603 starting, graduates earn roughly 20% more than the Texas median for this field and nearly 10% above the national benchmark. By year four, earnings climb to $44,843, showing steady professional advancement rather than the stagnation that plagues many criminal justice programs.

The financial picture looks manageable: $20,500 in median debt translates to a 0.50 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates owe about half of their first-year salary. While debt sits higher than the national median percentile-wise, it's actually $4,500 below the national median in absolute terms and notably lower than what students at peer Texas programs carry. For a program at a selective public university (65% admission rate, 1300 SAT average), this represents solid value—especially considering the moderate sample size suggests the data reflects a meaningful cohort, not an anomaly.

This program offers a clear advantage for Texas families: stronger-than-typical earnings at a cost below what you'd find at private competitors like St. Mary's or Saint Edward's. If your student is drawn to criminal justice work, UT Dallas provides better economic positioning than the state norm.