Criminal Justice and Corrections at Drury University-College of Continuing Professional Studies

Drury's continuing education program starts graduates at slightly above Missouri's median for criminal justice degrees, landing in the 60th percentile statewide—but then earnings actually decline over the next three years rather than grow. Graduates earn $38,014 initially, then drop to $35,306 by year four. This downward trajectory is unusual and worth understanding before committing, especially when other Missouri schools like Park University ($49,305) and Columbia College ($46,195) show much stronger outcomes.

The debt picture offers some compensation: at $34,000, graduates borrow about $8,000 more than typical for this degree, but the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.89 remains manageable. With 59% of students receiving Pell grants, this program clearly serves working adults and non-traditional students who may value flexibility over maximum earning potential. The moderate sample size (30-100 graduates) suggests these patterns are reasonably reliable.

For families prioritizing stable career progression in law enforcement or corrections, this presents a tradeoff. The degree costs more than average and leads to earnings that move backward instead of forward. If your student needs evening classes or an accelerated format and plans to stay in the Springfield area where they might already have employment connections, that could justify the premium. Otherwise, Missouri offers several programs delivering $10,000+ higher earnings at similar or lower debt levels.