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Criminal Justice at Tarrant County College District

Fort Worth, TX · Public · Associate Degree · Criminal Justice and Corrections

with 40,214 students enrolled in Fort Worth, TX.

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $32,315/yr fall 18% below the $39,484 national median for Criminal Justice. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

The 120.2x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. Trade programs often deliver strong ratios, and this one is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 36% task exposure — and the 21% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook for Criminal Justice graduates.

At $13,168 in median debt against $32,315 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

Ranked #134 out of 469 programs, Tarrant County College District's Criminal Justice offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $32,315 to $40,832 shows 26% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

With 17 registered apprenticeships mapped to Criminal Justice, graduates have substantial options for hands-on training paths that pay from day one.

77 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
72
Low End
77
Score
78
High End
Earnings $32,315/yr (-18% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (64% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$426K
6.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
123.4x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
20 of 20
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition (In-State)
$3,456
Out-of-state: $16,470
Median Debt at Graduation
$13,168
4.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$40,832
26% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Criminal Justice graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Managers, all other $136,550 +4.5% 53%
First-line supervisors of police and detectives $105,980 +2.9% 67%
Detectives and criminal investigators $93,580 -0.7% 47%
Managers, all other
$136,550
+4.5% growth 53% AI-proof
First-line supervisors of police and detectives
$105,980
+2.9% growth 67% AI-proof
Detectives and criminal investigators
$93,580
-0.7% growth 47% AI-proof

View all 20 career paths with full salary data →

Criminal Justice Career Guide

Criminal Justice opens doors to multiple career tracks. Our pillar guide covers every mapped occupation with salary data and AI resilience ratings.

Read the full Criminal Justice career guide →

Compare & Explore

Criminal Justice Overview

View all 469 schools offering Criminal Justice →

Criminal Justice at Other Schools

Santa Rosa Junior College ($111,649) San Bernardino Valley College ($94,285) San Diego Miramar College ($91,647) Monroe Community College ($85,061) Moreno Valley College ($81,339) Gateway Technical College ($73,818) Butte College ($73,170) Red Rocks Community College ($72,583)

Other Majors at Tarrant County College District

Nursing ($72,069) Dental Assisting ($65,537) Allied Health Professions ($57,721) Vehicle Repair Technology ($50,956) Vehicle Repair Technology ($50,531) Business Administration ($43,700) Legal Support Services ($38,404) Business Administration ($38,168)

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare Criminal Justice degree programs on DegreeOutlook →

Compare how bachelor's degree graduates fare on earnings, ROI, and AI resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 77/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Criminal Justice at Tarrant County College District?
A score of 77/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Tarrant County College District's Criminal Justice graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
Can you still earn well with Criminal Justice from Tarrant County College District?
Lower starting pay at Tarrant County College District may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Are there apprenticeship options for Criminal Justice?
If Tarrant County College District's tuition gives you pause, consider that 17 DOL-registered apprenticeship pathways exist for Criminal Justice. You'd earn while training, avoiding student debt entirely — though completion takes longer than a certificate program.
Will Criminal Justice graduates from Tarrant County College District find jobs?
The career paths mapped to Criminal Justice have roughly 480,600 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Demand is driven by public safety staffing needs and retirement-driven turnover.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →