Location: New Albany, IN•In-State Tuition: $8,179•Out-of-State Tuition: $22,043•Admission Rate: 83%•Avg SAT: 1097
Median Earnings (1yr)
$41,898
73rd percentile
60th percentile in Indiana
Median Debt
$23,950
8% below national median
D/E Ratio: 0.57 ManageableSample: 29 graduates Limited data

Analysis

IU-Southeast's Criminal Justice program produces graduates earning around $42,000—better than three-quarters of similar programs nationwide, though landing in the middle of the pack for Indiana. The modest debt load of $23,950 translates to manageable monthly payments, especially with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.57 that suggests graduates can reasonably handle repayment on entry-level corrections or law enforcement salaries.

The nearly flat earnings trajectory between year one and year four is the main concern here. While graduates start slightly ahead of typical Indiana criminal justice majors, that advantage doesn't grow over time. Compare this to top-performing Indiana programs like Calumet College or Vincennes, where graduates earn $10,000+ more annually. The 83% admission rate and relatively accessible price point make this a solid safety option, but students serious about maximizing earnings in this field should consider why some Indiana competitors produce significantly better outcomes.

The small sample size means these numbers could shift with just a handful of graduates, so don't treat them as gospel. However, the combination of above-average starting salaries and below-average debt makes this a financially sensible choice for students committed to staying local—just don't expect dramatic salary growth in the first few years of your career.

Where Indiana University-Southeast Stands

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

Indiana University-SoutheastOther criminal justice and corrections programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How Indiana University-Southeast graduates compare to all programs nationally

Indiana University-Southeast earns $42k — 73th percentile among criminal justice and corrections bachelors programs.

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
Indiana University-Southeast$41,898$42,591+2%
Oakland City University$46,038$59,489+29%
Indiana University-Bloomington$35,572$51,792+46%
University of Indianapolis$44,418$50,758+14%
Ball State University$39,991$47,500+19%

Compare to Similar Programs in Indiana

Criminal Justice and Corrections bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Indiana (28 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Indiana University-SoutheastNew Albany$8,179$41,898$42,591$23,9500.57
Calumet College of Saint JosephWhiting$22,650$55,587—$23,8560.43
Vincennes UniversityVincennes$6,886$46,644$46,026$21,0300.45
Oakland City UniversityOakland City$27,150$46,038$59,489$24,6570.54
Purdue University GlobalWest Lafayette$10,110$45,984$43,072$40,2440.88
Indiana University-EastRichmond$8,179$45,204$44,403$28,6860.63
National Median—$37,856—$26,1300.69

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 Indiana University-Southeast, approximately 34% 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 29 graduates with reported earnings and 21 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.