Criminal Justice and Corrections at Claflin University

Claflin's Criminal Justice program produces graduates earning $29,424 in their first year—roughly $7,000 below the state median and nearly $9,000 below the national average for this degree. With $37,009 in typical debt, graduates face a challenging repayment scenario where their debt exceeds their first-year salary by 26%. To put this in perspective, SC programs like Columbia College and Anderson University produce criminal justice graduates earning $45,000-$50,000 annually, nearly double what Claflin graduates initially earn. Even the state median sits at $36,747, placing Claflin in just the 25th percentile among South Carolina schools.

The earnings do improve to $33,720 by year four—a 15% increase that suggests career progression is happening—but this still leaves graduates earning less than they owed at graduation. While Claflin serves a predominantly Pell-eligible student body (73%), and access matters, the economic reality is stark: you're looking at federal loan payments of around $400-500 monthly on an income of less than $2,500 monthly after taxes. For families already stretching financially to afford college, this debt burden could prove overwhelming.

If criminal justice is the goal, exploring other SC options or starting at a community college before transferring could preserve career aspirations while reducing financial risk. This particular path requires serious consideration of whether the full four-year investment at Claflin makes financial sense.