Criminal Justice and Corrections at Georgia College & State University

Georgia College's Criminal Justice program sits solidly in the middle of the pack—ranking in the 60th percentile among Georgia programs—but the small sample size here (under 30 graduates tracked) means these numbers could swing significantly with more data. Still, what we see shows graduates earning $39,133 initially and growing to $44,076 by year four, outpacing both the state median of $37,330 and the national benchmark. The $25,000 debt burden is notably lighter than Georgia's typical $30,658 for this field.

The real question is opportunity cost. While this program beats most Georgia competitors, the top performers earn dramatically more—Herzing grads make $67,229, nearly $24,000 above GCSU's four-year mark. That gap likely reflects the difference between public safety roles (where many GCSU grads likely land) and higher-paying security management or federal positions. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.64 is reasonable, meaning graduates should manage their payments without crisis, but they're not exactly accelerating toward financial security either.

For a parent, this looks like a safe bet if your child is committed to criminal justice work in Georgia's public sector. The moderate debt and steady income growth suggest financial stability rather than wealth-building. Just recognize that the small sample means these numbers could look different for future cohorts, and higher-earning paths in this field clearly exist elsewhere.