Criminal Justice and Corrections at Albany State University

Albany State's criminal justice program serves a predominantly low-income student body (65% Pell recipients) but delivers earnings that lag significantly behind alternatives. At $31,868 in the first year, graduates earn about $5,500 less than the Georgia median for this degree and rank in just the 12th percentile nationally. Meanwhile, the $31,000 debt burden nearly equals that first year's salary—a ratio that makes loan repayment challenging even for graduates who secure full-time work immediately.

The numbers improve modestly over four years, with earnings climbing to $35,261, but this still trails peers across Georgia. It's worth noting that criminal justice salaries often depend heavily on which specific career path graduates pursue—federal positions and certain state law enforcement roles pay substantially more than entry-level corrections work. The fact that some Georgia programs (like Herzing Atlanta at $67,229) achieve dramatically higher outcomes suggests employer preferences or career placement support may vary significantly.

For families evaluating this investment, the core challenge is straightforward: you're taking on nearly a full year's salary in debt for earnings that fall in the bottom quarter nationally. Unless your child has specific career goals in corrections or law enforcement that require this credential and can commit to strategic job placement, the financial math doesn't strongly favor this path. Georgia offers criminal justice programs with better earnings outcomes at similar debt levels.