Criminology at Arkansas State University

Arkansas State's criminology program sits below the middle of the pack both nationally (45th percentile) and within Arkansas (40th percentile), with graduates earning around $36,700—about $900 less than the Arkansas median for this degree. More concerning is that earnings essentially flatline after graduation, staying in the mid-$36,000s four years out. University of Central Arkansas criminology graduates, by comparison, earn nearly $2,000 more annually.

The debt picture offers the program's clearest advantage: at $27,875, it's substantially lower than the national median and manageable relative to first-year earnings (0.76 ratio). However, Arkansas students at the other in-state program carry even less debt—about $4,000 less—while earning more. The modest sample size means some year-to-year variation is expected, but the flat earnings trajectory suggests graduates may be hitting early career ceilings in entry-level criminal justice positions that don't offer much upward mobility.

For families weighing this against other Arkansas options, the math is straightforward: slightly lower debt doesn't compensate for consistently lower earnings that show no growth momentum. If your student is committed to criminology and Arkansas State offers specific location advantages or program features, the debt load won't be crushing. But purely on return on investment, this program trails its in-state competition.