Criminal Justice and Corrections at East Central University

East Central University's criminal justice program places graduates above both national and Oklahoma medians—$41,437 versus $37,856 nationally and $39,609 statewide—though the small sample size means these numbers could shift significantly with more data. The program ranks in the 71st percentile nationally and 60th percentile among Oklahoma schools, putting it solidly in the middle of the state pack while outperforming most programs nationwide. At $21,553 in median debt (matching the state average but well below the national $26,130), graduates face a manageable 0.52 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning they'd owe roughly six months of their first year's salary.

The concerning signal here is the flat earnings trajectory—virtually no growth from year one to year four suggests limited career advancement opportunities in the field. While graduates start reasonably strong compared to peers, they're not climbing the ladder the way you'd hope to see. This pattern is common in criminal justice careers with structured pay scales, but it means the initial salary matters even more since it likely represents the near-term ceiling.

For an in-state student at East Central, this program delivers decent value: lower-than-average debt with slightly above-average earnings. Just understand that what your child earns in their first year is probably close to what they'll be earning four years later, so the starting salary needs to work for the long haul.