Criminal Justice and Corrections at Fayetteville State University

Starting at $29,016 a year after graduation—23% below even North Carolina's middling state median—Fayetteville State's Criminal Justice program places in the bottom quarter statewide and the 5th percentile nationally. That's a troubling foundation, especially when graduates from comparable NC programs like Campbell and University of Mount Olive start nearly $10,000 higher. The $26,000 debt load isn't excessive relative to national norms, but when it nearly equals that first year's salary, the immediate financial pressure is real.

The encouraging news is the 29% earnings bump by year four, climbing to $37,452—suggesting graduates do find better-paying positions with experience. However, even this improved figure barely reaches the national median for criminal justice grads overall and still lags most NC competitors. For a state school serving predominantly Pell-eligible students (53%), this trajectory means several lean years of budgeting before financial stability kicks in.

This program works best for students with strong family support or those living at home initially, where the low starting salary won't derail their finances. But families expecting their graduate to immediately cover living expenses and loans should look hard at NC's better-performing programs, several of which start graduates $10,000+ higher while charging similar or even lower debt. The gap between Fayetteville State and the state's top performers is simply too wide to ignore.