Criminal Justice and Corrections at Miller-Motte College-Conway

Graduating with nearly $30,000 in debt to earn roughly $30,000 annually raises immediate red flags for a two-year degree. Miller-Motte's Criminal Justice program saddles students with debt levels that rank in the bottom 5% nationally—more than double what the typical program charges—while delivering earnings that fall below both South Carolina's median ($31,780) and the national average ($33,269) for this field.

The stagnant earnings picture is equally troubling. Four years after graduation, median earnings remain essentially unchanged at $30,411, while graduates from South Carolina's top technical colleges in this field earn $35,000 to $44,000. Given that over half of Miller-Motte students receive Pell grants, many families can least afford to take on excessive debt for below-average outcomes. The debt-to-earnings ratio of nearly 1:1 means graduates will face significant financial strain, particularly if they're pursuing entry-level law enforcement or corrections positions that typically start in this salary range.

For families considering criminal justice programs in South Carolina, the state's technical college system offers substantially better value. Horry-Georgetown Technical College, located nearby, delivers similar outcomes with likely lower debt. Unless Miller-Motte offers unique career placement advantages not reflected in these numbers, the combination of high debt and below-market earnings makes this program difficult to justify.