Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degree) at Guilford College

Median Earnings (1yr)

$31,799

12th percentile

40th percentile in North Carolina

Median Debt

$27,290

4% above national median

Analysis

Guilford's criminal justice program falls significantly below national standards, ranking in just the 12th percentile for graduate earnings—but the picture within North Carolina is more nuanced. At around $32,000 first-year, graduates earn about $2,600 less than the typical North Carolina program and trail the state's top performers by over $10,000 annually. The debt load of $27,290 is close to state and national medians, but when paired with below-average earnings, it creates a concerning debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.86.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) is a critical caveat here—these numbers could shift dramatically with more data. The 26% earnings growth to year four is encouraging and suggests the degree does help graduates advance, but they're starting from a weak baseline. Given that 44% of Guilford students receive Pell grants, many families here are price-sensitive, making that initial earnings gap particularly painful.

For families considering this program, the numbers suggest looking hard at alternatives. Several NC schools deliver significantly better outcomes at similar or lower cost. Unless Guilford offers specific connections or opportunities in criminal justice that justify the earnings gap, this investment carries above-average risk for the financial return.

Where Guilford College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all criminal justice and corrections bachelors's programs nationally

Earnings Distribution

How Guilford College graduates compare to all programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School	1 Year	4 Years	Growth
Guilford College	$31,799	$40,054	+26%
Strayer University-North Carolina	$43,405	$50,636	+17%
East Carolina University	$36,374	$47,167	+30%
Campbell University	$40,590	$46,459	+14%
Western Carolina University	$38,682	$46,331	+20%

Compare to Similar Programs in North Carolina

Criminal Justice and Corrections bachelors's programs at peer institutions in North Carolina (36 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Guilford CollegeGreensboro	$41,140	$31,799	$40,054	$27,290	0.86
Strayer University-North CarolinaGreensboro	$13,920	$43,405	$50,636	$56,937	1.31
University of Mount OliveMount Olive	$25,950	$40,639	$43,107	$34,535	0.85
Campbell UniversityBuies Creek	$40,410	$40,590	$46,459	$27,000	0.67
Lees-McRae CollegeBanner Elk	$31,140	$39,811	$31,811	$15,000	0.38
Wingate UniversityWingate	$40,196	$39,498	—	$27,000	0.68
National Median	—	$37,856	—	$26,130	0.69

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with criminal justice and corrections graduates

Financial Examiners

Enforce or ensure compliance with laws and regulations governing financial and securities institutions and financial and real estate transactions. May examine, verify, or authenticate records.

$90,400/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Emergency Management Directors

Plan and direct disaster response or crisis management activities, provide disaster preparedness training, and prepare emergency plans and procedures for natural (e.g., hurricanes, floods, earthquakes), wartime, or technological (e.g., nuclear power plant emergencies or hazardous materials spills) disasters or hostage situations.

$86,130/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in criminal justice, corrections, and law enforcement administration. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Compliance Officers

Examine, evaluate, and investigate eligibility for or conformity with laws and regulations governing contract compliance of licenses and permits, and perform other compliance and enforcement inspection and analysis activities not classified elsewhere.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Environmental Compliance Inspectors

Inspect and investigate sources of pollution to protect the public and environment and ensure conformance with Federal, State, and local regulations and ordinances.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers

Monitor and evaluate compliance with equal opportunity laws, guidelines, and policies to ensure that employment practices and contracting arrangements give equal opportunity without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Government Property Inspectors and Investigators

Investigate or inspect government property to ensure compliance with contract agreements and government regulations.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Regulatory Affairs Specialists

Coordinate and document internal regulatory processes, such as internal audits, inspections, license renewals, or registrations. May compile and prepare materials for submission to regulatory agencies.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Customs Brokers

Prepare customs documentation and ensure that shipments meet all applicable laws to facilitate the import and export of goods. Determine and track duties and taxes payable and process payments on behalf of client. Sign documents under a power of attorney. Represent clients in meetings with customs officials and apply for duty refunds and tariff reclassifications. Coordinate transportation and storage of imported goods.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Detectives and Criminal Investigators

Conduct investigations related to suspected violations of federal, state, or local laws to prevent or solve crimes.

$77,270/yrJobs growth:

Police Identification and Records Officers

Collect evidence at crime scene, classify and identify fingerprints, and photograph evidence for use in criminal and civil cases.

$77,270/yrJobs growth:

Intelligence Analysts

Gather, analyze, or evaluate information from a variety of sources, such as law enforcement databases, surveillance, intelligence networks or geographic information systems. Use intelligence data to anticipate and prevent organized crime activities, such as terrorism.

$77,270/yrJobs growth:

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Guilford College, approximately 44% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 28 graduates with reported earnings and 32 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.