Criminal Justice and Corrections at Livingstone College

Livingstone graduates entering criminal justice careers face a challenging financial picture: first-year earnings of $27,405 barely reach poverty-level wages, despite carrying debt that exceeds a full year's salary. While the program ranks in the bottom 5% nationally for earnings, it performs somewhat better against North Carolina peers, landing at the 25th percentile—though that still means three-quarters of the state's criminal justice programs deliver stronger immediate returns. The $35,375 debt load is actually below-average for the program, but that's cold comfort when graduates struggle to service it on entry-level salaries.

The 40% earnings growth to $38,447 by year four offers some hope, suggesting graduates eventually find better positions or advance in their agencies. However, this four-year mark still falls short of what top NC programs deliver in year one—Campbell and University of Mount Olive graduates start around $40,000. Given that 84% of Livingstone students receive Pell grants, many families here lack financial cushion to absorb years of constrained budgets while waiting for career progression.

For families committed to this field, the math is stark: expect at least 3-4 years of financial stress while your graduate establishes themselves. North Carolina offers demonstrably stronger alternatives at institutions like Strayer ($43,405 starting) or University of Mount Olive that could shorten that difficult period considerably. If Livingstone is the choice for other compelling reasons, ensure your student understands they're accepting a longer runway to financial stability than most criminal justice graduates in the state.