Criminal Justice and Corrections at Benedict College

Benedict College's Criminal Justice program ranks in just the 10th percentile among South Carolina criminal justice programs, with first-year earnings of $23,838 falling $13,000 below the state median. Graduates carry $40,750 in debt—nearly double what graduates from other SC criminal justice programs typically owe. That 1.71 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe more than 1.5 times what they'll earn in their first year, creating immediate financial strain for a population where 63% already qualify for Pell grants.

The program does show strong earnings growth—graduates see income jump 65% by year four to $39,260. However, even this later figure barely matches what typical criminal justice graduates earn in their first year at other schools. Compare this to Columbia College graduates who start at $50,519, or even North Greenville University at $39,415. The combination of below-average starting salaries and above-average debt creates a financial hurdle that takes years to overcome.

For families considering this program, the math is sobering: your student would need to manage loan payments on $40,750 of debt while earning roughly $24,000 annually. Unless your child has significant scholarship support that dramatically reduces borrowing, or compelling reasons to attend Benedict specifically, exploring the dozen other criminal justice programs across South Carolina that deliver better financial outcomes makes financial sense.