Criminal Justice and Corrections at Grambling State University

Grambling State's criminal justice program leaves graduates earning just $23,046 in their first year—roughly $14,000 below the Louisiana median and $15,000 below the national benchmark. That places it in the bottom 10% both statewide and nationally. Making matters worse, graduates carry nearly $40,000 in debt, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.73 that will take years to overcome even as earnings improve.

The 45% earnings growth to $33,296 by year four offers some relief, but even at that point graduates still trail their peers at comparable Louisiana schools like UL Lafayette ($35,872) and Southeastern Louisiana ($35,024). With 72% of students receiving Pell grants, many families here are already stretching financially—taking on $40,000 in debt for starting salaries under $25,000 compounds that challenge significantly.

If your child is set on criminal justice in Louisiana, you're looking at better debt-to-earnings profiles at most alternatives in the state. The low admission standards suggest Grambling may accept students who struggle elsewhere, but that access comes at a steep financial cost. Unless your family has specific ties to this HBCU or your child has substantial scholarship support that brings debt below $25,000, the numbers point toward exploring other Louisiana public universities where criminal justice graduates start closer to $35,000.