Criminal Justice and Corrections at Tarleton State University

Stephenville, TX · Public · Bachelor's Degree
61 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
62
Optimistic
61
Base Case
51
Pessimistic
Earnings $43,186/yr (12% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (36% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)
ROI 16.1x earnings multiple (7.1x out-of-state)
Ranked #75 of 629 Criminal Justice and Corrections programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $508K $507K $471K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 16.1x 16.1x 14.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.1x 7.1x 6.6x
Probability of Field Employment 34% 32% 26%
DegreeOutlook Score 62 61 51

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$31,512
Out-of-state: $71,832 (7.1x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$81,044
-157% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$18,750
5.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$52,114
21% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $43,186 per year, Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates from Tarleton State University earn slightly above the $38,544 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 16.1x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Criminal Justice and Corrections programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Criminal Justice and Corrections's typical career paths, with 36% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 7% gap from the optimistic case.

The median debt load of $18,750 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

At #75 of 629 nationally, this is a top-5% Criminal Justice and Corrections program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Earnings grow from $43,186 to $52,114 over five years — a 21% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Tarleton State University

With 94% of applicants admitted, Tarleton State University prioritizes broad access, serving 12,263 students in Stephenville, TX.

See all programs and financial aid at Tarleton State University →

Top Career Paths

Managers, all other $136,550/yr
First-line supervisors of police and detectives $105,980/yr
Detectives and criminal investigators $93,580/yr
View all 20 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Criminal Justice and Corrections at Tarleton State University?
A score of 61/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Criminal Justice and Corrections field.
What makes Tarleton State University's Criminal Justice and Corrections program stand out?
Ranked #75 of 629 programs nationally, Tarleton State University lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →