Criminal Justice and Corrections at Hannibal-LaGrange University

A Criminal Justice bachelor's degree from Hannibal-LaGrange comes with an estimated $26,000 in debt—right at the Missouri median—but the earnings picture based on comparable state programs suggests modest financial returns. First-year earnings estimated around $36,900 barely match the state median for this field, while the reported fourth-year figure of $39,747 shows limited growth over time. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.71, graduates would face roughly 8-9 months of their gross first-year salary going toward debt, which is manageable but leaves little cushion given the field's modest pay scale.

The real concern emerges when looking at what other Missouri criminal justice programs deliver. Park University graduates earn $49,300—about $12,400 more annually than what similar Missouri programs typically produce. Even public institutions like Missouri Western post stronger outcomes at nearly $40,000. Criminal justice careers—whether in corrections, law enforcement, or probation—rarely offer dramatic salary growth, making that starting point critical. The fourth-year earnings here suggest graduates are treading water rather than building momentum.

For parents, the bottom line is that this program appears positioned at the lower end of Missouri's criminal justice offerings. While the debt isn't crushing, you're likely paying private school tuition for outcomes that mirror the state median. If this is your child's committed path, exploring programs with demonstrated stronger earnings—particularly public universities or Park—could mean thousands more annually that compound over a career.