Location: Fremont, NE•In-State Tuition: $40,270•Admission Rate: 67%•Avg SAT: 1043
Median Earnings (1yr)
$41,149
69th percentile
60th percentile in Nebraska
Median Debt
$27,000
3% above national median
D/E Ratio: 0.66 ManageableSample: 26 graduates Limited data

Analysis

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.

Where Midland University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all criminal justice and corrections bachelors's programs nationally

Midland UniversityOther criminal justice and corrections programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How Midland University graduates compare to all programs nationally

Midland University earns $41k — 69th percentile among criminal justice and corrections bachelors programs.

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
Midland University$41,149$42,635+4%
University of Nebraska-Lincoln$42,139$48,456+15%
Peru State College$38,953$47,968+23%
University of Nebraska at Omaha$38,756$47,529+23%
University of Nebraska at Kearney$40,128$43,670+9%

Compare to Similar Programs in Nebraska

Criminal Justice and Corrections bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Nebraska (13 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Midland UniversityFremont$40,270$41,149$42,635$27,0000.66
University of Nebraska-LincolnLincoln$10,108$42,139$48,456——
Wayne State CollegeWayne$7,970$41,869$43,228$25,0000.60
University of Nebraska at KearneyKearney$8,302$40,128$43,670$19,2500.48
Peru State CollegePeru$8,280$38,953$47,968$27,3670.70
University of Nebraska at OmahaOmaha$8,370$38,756$47,529$22,5610.58
National Median—$37,856—$26,1300.69

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with criminal justice and corrections graduates

Financial Examiners

Enforce or ensure compliance with laws and regulations governing financial and securities institutions and financial and real estate transactions. May examine, verify, or authenticate records.

$90,400/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Emergency Management Directors

Plan and direct disaster response or crisis management activities, provide disaster preparedness training, and prepare emergency plans and procedures for natural (e.g., hurricanes, floods, earthquakes), wartime, or technological (e.g., nuclear power plant emergencies or hazardous materials spills) disasters or hostage situations.

$86,130/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in criminal justice, corrections, and law enforcement administration. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Compliance Officers

Examine, evaluate, and investigate eligibility for or conformity with laws and regulations governing contract compliance of licenses and permits, and perform other compliance and enforcement inspection and analysis activities not classified elsewhere.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Environmental Compliance Inspectors

Inspect and investigate sources of pollution to protect the public and environment and ensure conformance with Federal, State, and local regulations and ordinances.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers

Monitor and evaluate compliance with equal opportunity laws, guidelines, and policies to ensure that employment practices and contracting arrangements give equal opportunity without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Government Property Inspectors and Investigators

Investigate or inspect government property to ensure compliance with contract agreements and government regulations.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Regulatory Affairs Specialists

Coordinate and document internal regulatory processes, such as internal audits, inspections, license renewals, or registrations. May compile and prepare materials for submission to regulatory agencies.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Customs Brokers

Prepare customs documentation and ensure that shipments meet all applicable laws to facilitate the import and export of goods. Determine and track duties and taxes payable and process payments on behalf of client. Sign documents under a power of attorney. Represent clients in meetings with customs officials and apply for duty refunds and tariff reclassifications. Coordinate transportation and storage of imported goods.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Detectives and Criminal Investigators

Conduct investigations related to suspected violations of federal, state, or local laws to prevent or solve crimes.

$77,270/yrJobs growth:

Police Identification and Records Officers

Collect evidence at crime scene, classify and identify fingerprints, and photograph evidence for use in criminal and civil cases.

$77,270/yrJobs growth:

Intelligence Analysts

Gather, analyze, or evaluate information from a variety of sources, such as law enforcement databases, surveillance, intelligence networks or geographic information systems. Use intelligence data to anticipate and prevent organized crime activities, such as terrorism.

$77,270/yrJobs growth:
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Midland University, approximately 28% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 26 graduates with reported earnings and 29 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.