Criminal Justice and Corrections at Le Moyne-Owen College

Le Moyne-Owen serves a predominantly low-income student population (71% receive Pell grants), making the estimated $35,000 debt load particularly significant. While criminal justice programs in Tennessee typically leave graduates with around $26,500 in debt, similar institutions to Le Moyne-Owen suggest borrowing closer to $35,000—nearly a full year's salary based on what comparable Tennessee programs produce. For families already stretched financially, this matters: that near 1:1 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates would need to dedicate a substantial portion of early-career income to loan payments, potentially limiting their ability to achieve financial stability quickly.

The earnings estimate itself—$35,917—aligns with Tennessee's median for criminal justice bachelor's programs, though it trails the national median by about $2,000. More concerning is the gap with Tennessee's higher performers: Bethel and Cumberland graduates earn $45,000-$54,000 in their first year, suggesting that program quality and institutional connections vary significantly across the state. Without reported data specific to Le Moyne-Owen, it's impossible to know whether graduates beat or miss these peer benchmarks.

For families considering this program, the key question is whether Le Moyne-Owen's outcomes justify taking on 32% more debt than typical Tennessee criminal justice programs. Given the school's open-access mission and the lack of specific outcome data, parents should request placement rates and starting salary information directly from the college before committing to borrowing $35,000 for a degree in a field where earnings potential is inherently limited.