Criminal Justice and Corrections at University of North Texas

UNT's criminal justice program produces graduates earning about $4,000 more than the typical Texas graduate in this field—a meaningful advantage when you're choosing among 62 in-state options. At $39,267 in the first year and climbing to $44,301 by year four, these earnings beat both state and national medians, though they trail the handful of programs that place graduates directly into better-paying federal or specialized law enforcement roles.

The financial setup works in students' favor. With median debt of $20,538—roughly $5,000 below the state average—graduates leave with manageable loans that equal about half their first-year salary. That's a sustainable ratio, especially for a field where starting salaries rarely exceed $40,000. The robust sample size of 100+ graduates means these numbers reflect consistent outcomes, not outliers.

Here's what matters most: your student will likely start in entry-level positions (corrections, patrol, probation) where the $39,000 starting point is realistic across the field. UNT won't give them a shortcut to the highest-paying agencies, but it delivers solid preparation at a reasonable cost. For families seeking an affordable path into criminal justice careers, this program meets that standard without the debt burden that plagues many competitors.