Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degree) at West Texas A & M University

Median Earnings (1yr)

$37,978

51st percentile

60th percentile in Texas

Median Debt

$24,365

7% below national median

Analysis

West Texas A&M's Criminal Justice program delivers what you'd expect: graduates find work quickly in law enforcement or corrections, but they're not making dramatically more money than someone with just a high school diploma and a year of training. Starting at $38,000, graduates earn slightly above the national median for criminal justice programs and rank in the 60th percentile among Texas schools—meaning they're outearning three out of five similar programs in the state. The debt load of $24,365 is manageable, coming in below both state and national averages.

The bigger question is whether criminal justice as a field justifies four years of college. Graduates see modest earnings growth to $42,373 by year four, but even this puts them well below top Texas programs like Wayland Baptist ($53,000) or Texas A&M-Central Texas ($46,000). The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.64 suggests your child can pay off loans within a reasonable timeframe, though it's worth asking whether they could achieve similar outcomes through community college or police academy training at a fraction of the cost.

If your child is committed to criminal justice and wants the full university experience, West Texas A&M represents a solid mid-tier choice in Texas with predictable outcomes. But this isn't a career field where the bachelor's degree commands a significant premium, so cheaper educational paths deserve serious consideration.

Where West Texas A & M University Stands

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

Earnings Distribution

How West Texas A & M University graduates compare to all programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School	1 Year	4 Years	Growth
West Texas A & M University	$37,978	$42,373	+12%
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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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
West Texas A & M UniversityCanyon	$9,101	$37,978	$42,373	$24,365	0.64
Wayland Baptist UniversityPlainview	$23,186	$53,038	$47,490	$25,000	0.47
University of Phoenix-TexasDallas	—	$47,987	$44,185	$46,989	0.98
Texas A&M University-Central TexasKilleen	$6,627	$45,976	$33,511	$24,750	0.54
Texas Wesleyan UniversityFort Worth	$37,934	$44,328	$44,073	$26,000	0.59
Lamar UniversityBeaumont	$8,690	$43,707	$50,559	$31,000	0.71
National Median	—	$37,856	—	$26,130	0.69

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 West Texas A & M University, approximately 39% 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 57 graduates with reported earnings and 45 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.