Criminal Justice and Corrections at Midland University

Midland's criminal justice program charges $27,000 in median debt to deliver $41,149 in first-year earnings—a manageable 0.66 debt-to-earnings ratio that beats both the national median for these programs and sits comfortably in the middle of Nebraska's offerings. With graduates earning in the 69th percentile nationally and 60th within Nebraska, this program punches slightly above its weight for a school with a 67% admission rate, landing between prestigious programs like UNL and Wayne State and more affordable options like Peru State.

The challenge is what happens after graduation. Earnings crawl to just $42,635 by year four—barely a 4% increase—suggesting most graduates are settling into corrections officer or security roles rather than advancing into investigation or management positions that typically drive salary growth in this field. Still, at $27,000 in debt versus Nebraska's median of $23,780, you're not paying a significant premium for these outcomes.

The small sample size here (under 30 graduates) means one or two outlier careers could shift these numbers significantly. If your child is committed to criminal justice and wants a smaller campus environment in Nebraska, Midland delivers competitive starting salaries without burying them in debt. Just understand that career advancement will likely require additional credentials or a strategic job search beyond entry-level positions.