Criminal Justice and Corrections at El Paso Community College
TX · Associate's Degree · CIP 43.01
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Criminal Justice and Corrections degree from El Paso Community College earn a median salary of $40,549 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in TX, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $44,027. The degree typically pays for itself in 22.5 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$28,860
Typical Career
$40,549
Top Performers
$57,124
Estimated break-even: 22.5 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$270
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $3,379. Most students can comfortably afford about a $270 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.0x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.5x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Texas buys what costs $0.92 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Educational Services, Public Administration.
Where Associate's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$44,027
Nominal: $40,549 in Texas (COL 92.1% of national avg) · 8.6% higher purchasing power
10-Year Earnings Curve
Break-Even Timeline
How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).
Total Investment
$155,168
4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost
HS Graduate Baseline
$38,792/yr
BLS 2023 median, HS diploma
View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
| Timeframe | 25th Pct. | Median (50th) | 75th Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year After Graduation | $21,122 | $28,128 | $39,861 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $28,860 | $40,549 | $57,124 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $35,864 | $50,007 | $65,887 |
Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).
How We Calculate Purchasing Power
The median salary of $40,549 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in TX, which has a cost-of-living index of 92.1% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $40,549 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9210)
= $44,027 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The primary industries that graduates enter are predominantly within Health Care & Social Assistance, with significant percentages of 65.2%, 33.1%, and 25.3% across various roles. Given the estimated break-even point of approximately 22.5 years compared to a high school-only path, the return on investment for pursuing this degree may be considered moderate. While the earnings potential increases over time, students should weigh the long-term benefits against the time and financial commitment required for their education.
Compare with Another School
See how the Criminal Justice and Corrections degree at El Paso Community College stacks up against another institution side-by-side.
Ready to apply?
Start your application for Criminal Justice and Corrections at El Paso Community College.
Explore More
Other Degrees at El Paso Community College
Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.