Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degree) at Lane College

Median Earnings (1yr)

$35,917

37th percentile

60th percentile in Tennessee

Median Debt

$38,680

48% above national median

Analysis

Lane College's Criminal Justice program serves a predominantly low-income student population (79% receive Pell grants) but saddles them with debt loads that far exceed the norm. While graduates here carry $38,680 in median debt—higher than 90% of similar programs nationally—their first-year earnings of $35,917 barely match Tennessee's median for the field. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.08 means graduates owe more than an entire year's salary, making early repayment challenging on a criminal justice salary.

The state comparison reveals the core problem: Lane graduates earn the same as Tennessee's median but borrow $12,000 more than typical in-state students. Meanwhile, Middle Tennessee State University graduates earn slightly more ($37,952) with presumably lower in-state tuition costs, and Bethel University graduates command $54,207—over 50% higher earnings. For families watching every dollar, this debt premium buys no earnings advantage.

Given the small sample size, these numbers warrant caution, but the pattern is troubling for a program serving students who likely have limited financial cushion. If your child is drawn to criminal justice, Tennessee offers multiple programs with better debt profiles and similar or superior outcomes. Lane's combination of high debt and average earnings makes it difficult to recommend unless other factors—location, specific career connections, or personal circumstances—provide compelling reasons to choose it over alternatives.

Where Lane College Stands

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

Earnings Distribution

How Lane College graduates compare to all programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Tennessee

Criminal Justice and Corrections bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Tennessee (25 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Lane CollegeJackson	$11,790	$35,917	—	$38,680	1.08
Bethel UniversityMcKenzie	$18,168	$54,207	$53,625	$31,250	0.58
Cumberland UniversityLebanon	$27,840	$45,223	$47,688	—	—
Strayer University-TennesseeMemphis	$13,920	$43,405	$50,636	$56,937	1.31
Middle Tennessee State UniversityMurfreesboro	$9,506	$37,952	$46,241	$24,093	0.63
The University of Tennessee-ChattanoogaChattanooga	$10,144	$37,403	$38,871	$22,995	0.61
National Median	—	$37,856	—	$26,130	0.69

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 Lane College, approximately 79% 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 37 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.