Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degree) at American Public University System

Median Earnings (1yr)

$57,409

95th percentile

Median Debt

$19,000

27% below national median

Analysis

American Public University System's Criminal Justice program stands out as an exceptional value in a field often criticized for weak earnings outcomes. With first-year graduates earning $57,409—ranking in the 95th percentile both nationally and within West Virginia—this program dramatically outperforms typical expectations for criminal justice degrees, which nationally average just $37,856.

The financial picture is equally impressive. At $19,000 in median debt compared to the national average of $26,130, students graduate with significantly less financial burden while earning substantially more. This creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.33, meaning graduates can theoretically pay off their loans with about four months of income. Among West Virginia's criminal justice programs, APUS graduates earn nearly $25,000 more annually than the state median of $34,463, and even outpace the second-best program in the state by over $13,000.

The online format and strong industry connections appear to be key differentiators, allowing APUS to prepare students for higher-paying federal and private sector roles rather than traditional local law enforcement positions. With robust sample sizes backing these numbers and steady earnings growth to $61,351 by year four, this program offers one of the strongest returns on investment available in criminal justice education.

Where American Public University System Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all criminal justice and corrections bachelors's programs nationally

Earnings Distribution

How American Public University System graduates compare to all programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School	1 Year	4 Years	Growth
American Public University System	$57,409	$61,351	+7%
Strayer University-West Virginia	$43,405	$50,636	+17%
Fairmont State University	$36,179	$43,086	+19%
Marshall University	$32,747	$38,737	+18%
Salem University	$25,665	$36,756	+43%

Compare to Similar Programs in West Virginia

Criminal Justice and Corrections bachelors's programs at peer institutions in West Virginia (15 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
American Public University SystemCharles Town	$8,400	$57,409	$61,351	$19,000	0.33
Strayer University-West VirginiaScott Depot	$13,920	$43,405	$50,636	$56,937	1.31
West Virginia State UniversityInstitute	$9,049	$39,056	$33,861	$25,860	0.66
Fairmont State UniversityFairmont	$8,454	$36,179	$43,086	$25,557	0.71
Marshall UniversityHuntington	$8,942	$32,747	$38,737	$25,873	0.79
West Virginia Wesleyan CollegeBuckhannon	$33,494	$31,400	—	$27,000	0.86
National Median	—	$37,856	—	$26,130	0.69

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with criminal justice and corrections graduates

Financial Examiners

Enforce or ensure compliance with laws and regulations governing financial and securities institutions and financial and real estate transactions. May examine, verify, or authenticate records.

$90,400/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Emergency Management Directors

Plan and direct disaster response or crisis management activities, provide disaster preparedness training, and prepare emergency plans and procedures for natural (e.g., hurricanes, floods, earthquakes), wartime, or technological (e.g., nuclear power plant emergencies or hazardous materials spills) disasters or hostage situations.

$86,130/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in criminal justice, corrections, and law enforcement administration. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Compliance Officers

Examine, evaluate, and investigate eligibility for or conformity with laws and regulations governing contract compliance of licenses and permits, and perform other compliance and enforcement inspection and analysis activities not classified elsewhere.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Environmental Compliance Inspectors

Inspect and investigate sources of pollution to protect the public and environment and ensure conformance with Federal, State, and local regulations and ordinances.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers

Monitor and evaluate compliance with equal opportunity laws, guidelines, and policies to ensure that employment practices and contracting arrangements give equal opportunity without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Government Property Inspectors and Investigators

Investigate or inspect government property to ensure compliance with contract agreements and government regulations.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Regulatory Affairs Specialists

Coordinate and document internal regulatory processes, such as internal audits, inspections, license renewals, or registrations. May compile and prepare materials for submission to regulatory agencies.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Customs Brokers

Prepare customs documentation and ensure that shipments meet all applicable laws to facilitate the import and export of goods. Determine and track duties and taxes payable and process payments on behalf of client. Sign documents under a power of attorney. Represent clients in meetings with customs officials and apply for duty refunds and tariff reclassifications. Coordinate transportation and storage of imported goods.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Detectives and Criminal Investigators

Conduct investigations related to suspected violations of federal, state, or local laws to prevent or solve crimes.

$77,270/yrJobs growth:

Police Identification and Records Officers

Collect evidence at crime scene, classify and identify fingerprints, and photograph evidence for use in criminal and civil cases.

$77,270/yrJobs growth:

Intelligence Analysts

Gather, analyze, or evaluate information from a variety of sources, such as law enforcement databases, surveillance, intelligence networks or geographic information systems. Use intelligence data to anticipate and prevent organized crime activities, such as terrorism.

$77,270/yrJobs growth:

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At American Public University System, approximately 25% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 334 graduates with reported earnings and 364 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.