Criminal Justice and Corrections at Lane College

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.