Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degree) at Belmont Abbey College

Median Earnings (1yr)

$34,463

27th percentile

60th percentile in North Carolina

Median Debt

$27,000

3% above national median

Analysis

Belmont Abbey's Criminal Justice program lands right at North Carolina's median for graduate earnings—which means it outperforms nearly 40% of the state's criminal justice programs but trails top options like Strayer and University of Mount Olive by $4,000-$9,000. That positioning matters when the program already starts below the national median of $37,856.

The debt load of $27,000 translates to a manageable 78 cents owed for every dollar earned in year one, and graduates do see steady income growth to $39,395 by year four. However, even with that 14% increase, earnings remain modest for a field where North Carolina's stronger programs consistently deliver $40,000+ outcomes. The gap between Belmont Abbey and NC's top five criminal justice programs widens over time rather than narrows.

One significant caveat: these figures come from fewer than 30 graduates, making them less reliable than data from larger programs. For families prioritizing local law enforcement or corrections careers in North Carolina, this program offers middle-of-the-pack preparation at middle-of-the-pack debt. But those hoping to maximize earning potential should examine why programs like Campbell and Wingate—with similar private college profiles—consistently produce higher-earning graduates.

Where Belmont Abbey College Stands

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

Earnings Distribution

How Belmont Abbey College 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
Belmont Abbey College	$34,463	$39,395	+14%
Strayer University-North Carolina	$43,405	$50,636	+17%
East Carolina University	$36,374	$47,167	+30%
Campbell University	$40,590	$46,459	+14%
Western Carolina University	$38,682	$46,331	+20%

Compare to Similar Programs in North Carolina

Criminal Justice and Corrections bachelors's programs at peer institutions in North Carolina (36 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Belmont Abbey CollegeBelmont	$19,500	$34,463	$39,395	$27,000	0.78
Strayer University-North CarolinaGreensboro	$13,920	$43,405	$50,636	$56,937	1.31
University of Mount OliveMount Olive	$25,950	$40,639	$43,107	$34,535	0.85
Campbell UniversityBuies Creek	$40,410	$40,590	$46,459	$27,000	0.67
Lees-McRae CollegeBanner Elk	$31,140	$39,811	$31,811	$15,000	0.38
Wingate UniversityWingate	$40,196	$39,498	—	$27,000	0.68
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 Belmont Abbey College, 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 27 graduates with reported earnings and 31 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.