Criminal Justice and Corrections at Kentucky State University

Kentucky State's criminal justice program graduates earn about $33,000 a year after graduation—and then see those earnings actually decline by 5% over the next three years. While that puts them exactly at Kentucky's median for criminal justice programs, it trails the national average by nearly $5,000 annually and ranks in just the 19th percentile nationally. The debt load of $28,162 isn't excessive by national standards, but with stagnant earnings, you're looking at nearly a year's salary in student loans.

Here's the complicating factor: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so these numbers could shift substantially with a larger sample. The earnings decline is particularly concerning—most degrees show at least modest growth as graduates gain experience. Criminal justice careers can vary widely (corrections officers, parole officers, court administration), and career trajectory matters enormously in this field.

At 93% admission and serving a majority first-generation college population (57% Pell grants), Kentucky State provides access for students who might not have other options. But if your child has the grades to attend University of Louisville or Northern Kentucky (which show $36,000-$39,000 in earnings), those would deliver meaningfully better financial outcomes. If Kentucky State is the choice, understand that you're making an access decision rather than an earnings-maximizing one, and the career path after graduation will matter more than the degree itself.