Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degree) at Cameron University

Median Earnings (1yr)

$37,494

47th percentile

40th percentile in Oklahoma

Median Debt

$20,328

22% below national median

Analysis

Cameron University's Criminal Justice program delivers below-average earnings for the state while maintaining relatively high debt levels—a concerning combination for Oklahoma families. At $37,494 in first-year earnings, graduates earn about $2,100 less than the state median and fall in just the 40th percentile among Oklahoma's 17 criminal justice programs. The University of Oklahoma produces graduates earning $53,000, and even nearby East Central University reaches $41,400. With $20,328 in typical debt (higher than 87% of programs nationally), Cameron students face a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.54, meaning they're borrowing more than half their first year's salary.

The earnings picture does show modest improvement, growing 6% to nearly $40,000 by year four. However, this still trails several in-state alternatives that start stronger. For a program serving many first-generation students (41% receive Pell grants), the combination of higher-than-average debt and below-average earnings creates a tougher path to financial stability than comparable Oklahoma programs offer.

If your child is set on criminal justice in Oklahoma, look at the state's stronger performers first. The earnings gap between Cameron and top state programs amounts to roughly $15,000 annually—a difference that compounds significantly over a career, especially when starting debt loads are similar across schools.

Where Cameron University Stands

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

Earnings Distribution

How Cameron University 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
Cameron University	$37,494	$39,878	+6%
University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus	$53,003	$54,438	+3%
University of Central Oklahoma	$39,609	$44,492	+12%
Northeastern State University	$39,668	$44,016	+11%
East Central University	$41,437	$41,685	+1%

Compare to Similar Programs in Oklahoma

Criminal Justice and Corrections bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Oklahoma (17 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Cameron UniversityLawton	$6,900	$37,494	$39,878	$20,328	0.54
University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusNorman	$9,595	$53,003	$54,438	$27,156	0.51
East Central UniversityAda	$8,032	$41,437	$41,685	$21,553	0.52
Northeastern State UniversityTahlequah	$7,513	$39,668	$44,016	$23,050	0.58
University of Central OklahomaEdmond	$8,522	$39,609	$44,492	$22,875	0.58
Rogers State UniversityClaremore	$7,392	$38,064	—	$17,880	0.47
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 Cameron University, approximately 41% 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 40 graduates with reported earnings and 51 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.