Location: Edinburg, TX•In-State Tuition: $9,859•Out-of-State Tuition: $19,939•Admission Rate: 85%•Avg SAT: 1020
Median Earnings (1yr)
$32,899
18th percentile
40th percentile in Texas
Median Debt
$11,644
55% below national median
D/E Ratio: 0.35 ManageableSample: 636 graduates

Analysis

This Criminal Justice program at UT Rio Grande Valley delivers exceptional value through remarkably low debt rather than high earnings. With median debt of just $11,644—far below both the national average ($26,130) and Texas average ($25,834)—graduates enter the workforce with minimal financial burden. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.35 is outstanding, meaning students can realistically pay off their loans quickly even with starting salaries around $33,000.

While first-year earnings rank in the 18th percentile nationally, they're closer to average within Texas (40th percentile), reflecting the state's competitive job market. More importantly, earnings grow substantially over time, jumping 34% to $44,047 by year four. This trajectory suggests the program provides solid career foundation despite modest starting pay. The university serves a predominantly low-income student body (64% receive Pell grants), making the low debt load particularly valuable for families who can't afford to take on heavy educational debt.

For families prioritizing affordability and debt management, this program offers a clear path to a criminal justice career without crushing financial burden. The combination of low debt and steady earnings growth creates a sustainable financial picture that many higher-earning programs with heavy debt loads cannot match.

Where The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Stands

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

The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyOther criminal justice and corrections programs

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

Earnings Distribution

How The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley graduates compare to all programs nationally

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley earns $33k — 18th 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
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley$32,899$44,047+34%
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
The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyEdinburg$9,859$32,899$44,047$11,6440.35
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 The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, approximately 64% 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 636 graduates with reported earnings and 498 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.