Criminal Justiceat Texas A&M University-Central Texas
Graduates earn $45,976/yr in their first year — about 19.0% above the national Criminal Justice average. Base-case 10-year earnings $504K; scenarios range from $468K to $504K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Texas A&M University-Central Texas
At $45,976 per year, Criminal Justice graduates from Texas A&M University-Central Texas earn slightly above the $38,544 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 19.0x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Criminal Justice programs nationally.
Some AI exposure exists in Criminal Justice'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 $20,375 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
At #94 of 629 nationally, this is a top-5% Criminal Justice program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Texas A&M University-Central Texas's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Criminal Justice
How Texas A&M University-Central Texas stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Texas A&M University-Central Texas
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Texas A&M University-Central Texas, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Criminal Justice offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Criminal Justice trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Criminal Justice at Texas A&M University-Central Texas
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Criminal Justice at Texas A&M University-Central Texas?
A score of 60/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Criminal Justice field.
What makes Texas A&M University-Central Texas's Criminal Justice program stand out?
Ranked #94 of 629 programs nationally, Texas A&M University-Central Texas lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Is Texas A&M University-Central Texas a hidden gem for Criminal Justice?
After financial aid, the average student pays $4,452 over four years — 83% below the $26,508 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.