Criminal Justice and Corrections at Gardner-Webb University

Gardner-Webb's Criminal Justice program produces graduates who earn slightly above North Carolina's median but fall short of national averages—$35,433 initially versus $37,856 nationally. That 60th percentile state ranking matters more than you might think: most students attend college in their home state, and Gardner-Webb beats roughly half of North Carolina's criminal justice programs while keeping debt at $25,000, lower than both state and national benchmarks. The modest 10% earnings growth to $38,890 by year four suggests stability rather than rapid advancement in this field.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.71 means your child would owe about eight and a half months of their first year's salary—manageable if they're committed to public safety careers, which often prioritize stable employment over high earnings. However, it's worth noting that top North Carolina programs like Strayer and University of Mount Olive place graduates earning $8,000-$10,000 more annually, which compounds significantly over a career.

For families focused on staying in North Carolina and comfortable with mid-$30,000 starting salaries, this program delivers solid value at reasonable cost. But if maximizing earnings is the priority, your child might explore those higher-performing in-state alternatives or consider whether criminal justice truly aligns with their financial goals—many graduates discover that adjacent fields like business or technology offer better returns on similar degrees.