Criminal Justice and Corrections at Lindsey Wilson College

Starting at $29,512 puts Lindsey Wilson's criminal justice graduates nearly $8,000 below the Kentucky median and in the bottom 5% nationally—though earnings do climb to $38,302 by year four, which actually exceeds the state median. The debt load of $21,500 is relatively manageable compared to other Kentucky programs, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio that's workable if graduates can weather those first lean years. Half the student body receives Pell grants, suggesting this program serves students with limited alternatives, but the initial earnings gap is still striking when nearby competitors like University of Louisville start graduates $9,000 higher.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) makes these numbers less reliable than data from larger programs. That 30% earnings jump could reflect just a few graduates moving into better positions rather than a predictable career trajectory. For a family weighing this investment, the key question is whether your student can afford to earn below $30,000 annually for those first years—that's tight even in Columbia, Kentucky. The lower debt helps, but when University of the Cumberlands graduates earn $8,000 more from day one with similar debt levels, the value proposition becomes harder to justify unless location or other factors make Lindsey Wilson uniquely accessible.