Criminal Justice and Corrections at Arkansas Tech University

A Criminal Justice and Corrections certificate from Arkansas Tech comes with an estimated debt load of $15,414—more than double what comparable programs in Arkansas typically carry ($7,100) and significantly higher than the national median of $13,355. That's a red flag for a credential that, based on peer programs nationally, produces first-year earnings around $48,388. While that earnings figure sounds reasonable in isolation, Arkansas criminal justice programs typically generate lower returns: Black River Technical College's graduates earn $40,468, suggesting the national estimate may be optimistic for in-state employment prospects.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.32 appears manageable on paper, but this assumes the national earnings estimate holds true locally. If Arkansas wages are closer to the state median—$8,000 less annually—that debt becomes harder to justify, especially for a certificate program where you'd expect minimal borrowing. For context, other Arkansas programs in this field average just $7,100 in debt, allowing graduates to clear their obligations much faster even with lower starting salaries.

Given the uncertainty around both figures, parents should investigate whether this certificate genuinely requires $15,000 in borrowing. If your child can complete it with substantially less debt—or none at all—it could work as an affordable credential. But at the estimated debt level, you're paying premium prices for outcomes that Arkansas's job market may not support.