Criminal Justice and Corrections at Eastern Kentucky University

Eastern Kentucky's criminal justice program starts graduates at a significantly lower salary than most alternatives, but there's an important trajectory to consider. First-year earnings of $31,548 place graduates more than $6,000 below the national median and nearly $2,000 below Kentucky's average. Within the state alone, five other schools send their graduates into substantially higher starting salaries—University of Louisville grads earn over $7,000 more right out of the gate.

The 34% earnings growth by year four deserves attention, though. That jump to $42,270 brings graduates nearly to the national 75th percentile, suggesting career progression opportunities exist for those who stick with the field. Still, $25,000 in debt against that weak starting salary creates tight financial conditions during the crucial early repayment years. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.79 isn't catastrophic for a public university serving a largely Pell-eligible population, but it means graduates face real budget pressure early on.

The ranking—11th percentile nationally, 40th within Kentucky—tells you this is a program struggling to compete on outcomes even within its own state. If your child is committed to criminal justice in Kentucky, other state schools offer materially better starting positions without necessarily requiring higher debt loads. This program might work for students with strong local connections or job prospects already lined up, but it's a harder sell as a general investment compared to the alternatives available in-state.