Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degree) at Columbia College

Median Earnings (1yr)

$46,195

95th percentile

80th percentile in Missouri

Median Debt

$25,750

1% below national median

Analysis

Columbia College's criminal justice graduates earn substantially more than their peers—nearly $10,000 above the Missouri median and ranking in the 80th percentile statewide. Among 955 programs nationally, this one sits in the 95th percentile for earnings, putting it ahead of far better-known universities. Starting at $46,195 and climbing to nearly $48,000 by year four, these graduates are outearning even some of the stronger Missouri competitors like Missouri Baptist and Drury. With 44% of students receiving Pell grants, the college is clearly delivering social mobility alongside strong outcomes.

The debt picture reinforces the value: at $25,750, it's essentially on par with state and national medians, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.56 that graduates can realistically manage. This matters especially in criminal justice, where many career paths involve public service salaries. Columbia College graduates are entering those same fields but with a financial head start that compounds over time.

For parents weighing Missouri options, this program punches well above its weight. Your child would be choosing one of the top-performing criminal justice programs in the state at a debt level that won't handicap their career choices. The earnings advantage alone—$10,000 annually over typical Missouri graduates—pays back the investment quickly.

Where Columbia College Stands

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

Earnings Distribution

How Columbia College 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
Columbia College	$46,195	$47,907	+4%
Missouri Baptist University	$42,555	$59,300	+39%
Truman State University	$32,176	$50,100	+56%
Saint Louis University	$45,709	$50,011	+9%
University of Central Missouri	$37,221	$47,756	+28%

Compare to Similar Programs in Missouri

Criminal Justice and Corrections bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Missouri (26 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Columbia CollegeColumbia	$24,326	$46,195	$47,907	$25,750	0.56
Park UniversityParkville	$16,400	$49,305	$44,746	$18,299	0.37
Saint Louis UniversitySaint Louis	$53,244	$45,709	$50,011	$23,694	0.52
Missouri Baptist UniversitySaint Louis	$33,122	$42,555	$59,300	$23,187	0.54
Missouri Western State UniversitySaint Joseph	$9,800	$39,808	$42,651	$20,149	0.51
Drury UniversitySpringfield	$35,235	$38,014	$35,306	$34,000	0.89
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 Columbia College, approximately 44% 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 144 graduates with reported earnings and 163 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.