Criminal Justice and Corrections at Kent State University at Stark

Kent State Stark's criminal justice program lands squarely in the middle of Ohio's offerings—neither a standout nor a disaster. At the 40th percentile statewide, it trails schools like Tiffin and Baldwin Wallace by several thousand dollars annually, though it also costs far less than places like Herzing where graduates earn nearly double. The $26,000 debt load is essentially average for the field, both in Ohio and nationally.

The real concern is absolute earning power. Starting at $34,000, graduates face lean early years, though the 21% earnings bump to $41,000 by year four suggests steady career progression in law enforcement or corrections. Still, these numbers put graduates in the bottom quarter nationally for this major. For a family considering this program, the question becomes whether criminal justice is the right career path at all—this school's outcomes are typical for the field, which means modest earnings are baked into the profession itself, not just this campus.

The value proposition here is straightforward: if your child is committed to criminal justice work and wants to stay near Stark County, this program delivers predictable results at a manageable debt level. But if they're exploring options, they should know that similar programs at Tiffin or Baldwin Wallace produce graduates earning $2,000-8,000 more annually—a meaningful difference when starting salaries are already tight.