Criminal Justice and Corrections at Tyler Junior College

Tyler Junior College's Criminal Justice program shows earnings that trail both state and national averages, starting at just over $30,000 and climbing to $39,000 by year four. That four-year mark finally catches up to what graduates from top Texas programs like Central Texas College or Lone Star are earning right away. The program sits below the Texas median of $31,344, and notably underperforms the state's stronger community college options by $7,000-$9,000 in initial earnings.

The positive here is manageable debt—$12,000 is below both state and national medians, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.4 that won't crush your child financially. The 29% earnings growth over four years suggests career progression is possible, though you're essentially spending those first years making up ground that graduates from better programs don't have to cover.

The major caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so individual outcomes could vary significantly. For criminal justice in Texas, your child would be better positioned at one of the higher-performing community colleges where graduates start $7,000+ higher. If Tyler Junior College is the only local option, the low debt keeps it from being a terrible choice, but understand you're likely looking at several years of below-average earnings to start.