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

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$35,917

Est. from TN median (13 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$34,965

Est. from TN median (4 programs)

Analysis

Based on comparable criminal justice programs in Tennessee, Christian Brothers University graduates enter a field where first-year earnings of around $36,000 barely exceed the estimated $35,000 in student debt. That near 1:1 debt-to-earnings ratio means your child would owe roughly what they'll earn their entire first year—a tight financial squeeze for someone likely entering law enforcement or corrections work.

The Tennessee landscape shows significant variation in outcomes. While similar programs at Bethel and Cumberland see graduates earning $45,000-$54,000, peer programs typically cluster around Christian Brothers' estimated range. The debt load here appears notably higher than Tennessee's median of $26,500 for criminal justice bachelor's programs, which matters when salaries in this field don't grow as rapidly as in business or tech. At a school with an 88% admission rate, families should question whether the premium price translates to superior career placement in what's fundamentally a credentialed field where state and local hiring patterns often matter more than alma mater.

The practical reality: if your child is committed to criminal justice, public universities in Tennessee appear to deliver similar salary outcomes with substantially less debt. Unless Christian Brothers offers specific law enforcement connections or a career path your child can't access elsewhere, the estimated financial picture suggests exploring more affordable options first.

Where Christian Brothers University Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Tennessee

Criminal Justice and Corrections bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Tennessee (25 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Christian Brothers UniversityMemphis	$37,300	$35,917*	—	$34,965*	—
Bethel UniversityMcKenzie	$18,168	$54,207*	$53,625	$31,250*	0.58
Cumberland UniversityLebanon	$27,840	$45,223*	$47,688	—*	—
Strayer University-TennesseeMemphis	$13,920	$43,405*	$50,636	$56,937*	1.31
Middle Tennessee State UniversityMurfreesboro	$9,506	$37,952*	$46,241	$24,093*	0.63
The University of Tennessee-ChattanoogaChattanooga	$10,144	$37,403*	$38,871	$22,995*	0.61
National Median	—	$37,856*	—	$26,130*	0.69

* Estimated from similar programs

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 Christian Brothers University, approximately 31% 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.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 13 similar programs in TN. Actual outcomes may vary.