Criminal Justice at Tyler Junior College

Tyler, TX · Public · Associate Degree · Criminal Justice and Corrections

serving 9,065 students in Tyler, TX.

Program Analysis

Tyler Junior College's Criminal Justice graduates start at $30,127/yr, trailing the $39,484 national average by 24%. The program's value hinges on affordability.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 69.5x 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 career paths, with 36% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 30% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $8,000 in median debt clears fast against $30,127 in annual earnings.

At #223 of 469 Criminal Justice programs, Tyler Junior College scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Earnings grow from $30,127 to $41,922 over five years — a 39% increase that's moderate and in line with typical trade career progression.

Criminal Justice offers 17 registered apprenticeship pathways — an unusually broad set of earn-while-you-learn alternatives to the classroom track.

70 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
63
Low End
70
Score
72
High End
Earnings $30,127/yr (-24% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (64% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$449K
8.6% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
72.2x
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)
$6,224
Out-of-state: $11,504
Median Debt at Graduation
$8,000
3.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$41,922
39% 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

Explore what Criminal Justice graduates do, from entry-level roles to long-term career paths across 469 programs nationwide.

Read the full Criminal Justice career guide →

Compare & Explore

Criminal Justice Overview

Criminal Justice at Other Schools

Other Majors at Tyler Junior College

Trade Certificate vs. Bachelor's Degree

Weigh shorter time-to-career against higher earning ceilings. The numbers tell the story.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 70/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Criminal Justice at Tyler Junior College?
A score of 70/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Tyler Junior College's Criminal Justice graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How affordable is Criminal Justice at Tyler Junior College?
Median debt of just $8,000 against $30,127/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 3 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
Why are Criminal Justice earnings lower at Tyler Junior College?
Starting salary is one data point. If Tyler Junior College's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.
Can I learn Criminal Justice through an apprenticeship instead of Tyler Junior College?
There are 17 registered apprenticeships connected to Criminal Justice occupations, such as Correction Officer and Crime Scene Technician. The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.
Is there demand for Criminal Justice workers?
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 →