Criminal Justice and Corrections at Kent State University at East Liverpool

Kent State East Liverpool's criminal justice program sits in an uncomfortable middle ground: graduates earn less than three-quarters of their peers nationally, yet carry typical student debt. Starting at $34,000 and reaching $41,000 by year four, these earnings trail both national and Ohio medians—though the program does land at the 40th percentile among Ohio schools, meaning it's performing closer to state averages than national ones. The $26,000 debt load is manageable in absolute terms, but represents nearly nine months of first-year salary in a field where many entry positions are public sector with limited immediate earning potential.

The 21% earnings growth over four years offers some optimism, but graduates still lag well behind top Ohio performers like Herzing University-Akron ($67,000) or even mid-tier options like Ashland ($42,000). This gap matters particularly for Ohio residents who could access these alternatives at comparable in-state pricing. Criminal justice degrees often lead to law enforcement, corrections, or probation work—stable careers with benefits, but not high-earning ones early on.

For families banking on this degree as a financial investment, the numbers suggest caution. While the debt isn't crushing, the below-average earnings mean a longer payback period and tighter margins in those critical first years after graduation. Students passionate about criminal justice work might find better value at higher-performing Ohio programs, or should at least enter with realistic expectations about entry-level salaries in this field.