Criminal Justice and Corrections at Elizabeth City State University

Starting at under $30,000 a year, Elizabeth City State's criminal justice program ranks in the bottom 5% nationally for graduate earnings—though with fewer than 30 graduates tracked, these numbers may not tell the full story. The modest debt load of $23,903 offers some relief, but even that manageable borrowing takes nearly 10 months of gross earnings to repay. Within North Carolina, this program sits near the middle of the pack (40th percentile), yet lags $5,000 behind the state median and trails programs like University of Mount Olive and Campbell by over $10,000 annually.

The 32% earnings bump by year four shows graduates do advance, reaching nearly $40,000—closer to what many peers earn right out of school. For students at this HBCU where 53% receive Pell grants, the combination of accessible admission (70% acceptance rate) and relatively contained debt may matter more than ranking percentiles. Still, families should recognize that criminal justice careers through this pathway appear to start slower than most alternatives.

If your child is committed to Elizabeth City State for community or cultural reasons, understand they'll likely need patience as earnings catch up, or consider supplementing the degree with internships and certifications that accelerate entry into better-paying positions. The small sample size means outcomes could vary significantly from these figures, but current data suggests exploring other NC options first.