Criminal Justice and Corrections at Chadron State College

Chadron State's Criminal Justice program struggles to compete with other Nebraska options, placing in just the 25th percentile statewide. Graduates earn $32,454 in their first year—nearly $8,000 less than the state median and about $5,400 below the national average. Among Nebraska's 13 criminal justice programs, four schools deliver significantly stronger starting salaries, with UNL and Wayne State both exceeding $41,000.

The debt picture offers some relief: at $20,250, borrowing sits below both state and national medians. This keeps the debt-to-earnings ratio at a manageable 0.62, meaning graduates owe roughly seven months of their first-year salary. Earnings do grow to $36,135 by year four—an 11% increase—but that still trails the Nebraska median by $4,000.

For families considering this program, the core challenge is clear: you're likely paying similar or lower tuition than competing state schools but getting notably weaker salary outcomes. Unless Chadron State offers specific advantages like location or program fit that matter to your student's career goals, the nearby alternatives at Wayne State, UNK, or Peru State deliver better returns on investment. The lower debt helps, but it doesn't fully offset starting $8,000 behind other Nebraska graduates in the same field.