Criminal Justice and Corrections at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University

FAMU's Criminal Justice program graduates start at $33,776—about $5,600 below Florida's median for this degree and $4,000 below the national average. The earnings gap narrows slightly after four years to $38,281, but graduates still land in the 40th percentile statewide and just the 23rd percentile nationally. This matters when comparing tuition costs: while FAMU's $28,500 in typical debt sits close to national norms, Florida offers multiple options where criminal justice graduates earn $43,000+ within a year of graduation.

The 13% earnings growth from year one to year four is positive, and the debt burden remains manageable at 0.84 times first-year earnings. However, a family needs to consider whether those starting salaries align with Florida's cost of living, particularly when state alternatives like Indian River State College produce graduates earning nearly $10,000 more annually. FAMU serves a predominantly Pell Grant population (56%) at a selective institution, which speaks to its broader mission beyond just earnings outcomes.

For parents focused primarily on return on investment in criminal justice careers, this program underperforms state peers. If FAMU appeals for other reasons—campus community, HBCU experience, or specific program strengths—the financial trade-off is modest but real. Otherwise, exploring higher-earning Florida programs makes sense for a field where starting salaries directly impact career trajectory.