Criminal Justice and Corrections at Ferrum College

Ferrum College's Criminal Justice program posts first-year earnings of $42,080—landing in the 74th percentile nationally but the 60th percentile within Virginia. That Virginia ranking matters because it puts graduates solidly in the middle of the pack statewide, earning less than peers from Liberty ($48,855) or George Mason ($43,612), though still above the Virginia median of $39,404.

The debt picture looks favorable at $29,500, which translates to a 0.70 debt-to-earnings ratio. That's manageable by any reasonable standard—graduates would need to allocate about 7% of gross income to federal loan payments on a standard 10-year plan. While debt sits slightly above the state median of $27,000, it's well below the national median of $26,130 when adjusted for purchasing power. Earnings growth is modest at 4% over four years, typical for criminal justice roles where pay scales tend to flatten early in careers.

The critical caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so individual circumstances could swing these numbers significantly. That said, the combination of below-average debt and above-average starting salaries suggests reasonable value for students committed to criminal justice careers in Virginia, particularly given Ferrum's 47% Pell grant population and open admission policy. The program appears to deliver solid economic outcomes for students who might face barriers elsewhere.