Criminal Justice and Corrections at Cameron University

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.