Criminal Justice and Corrections at Mississippi College

Mississippi College's Criminal Justice program places graduates near the middle of the pack nationally but performs better against in-state competition, landing in the 60th percentile among Mississippi programs. With first-year earnings of $37,324 and manageable debt of $27,000, graduates start at roughly the national median for this field. The debt load represents about 8.5 months of salary—reasonable territory for a bachelor's degree, though criminal justice careers generally don't command premium wages.

The modest 5% earnings growth to $39,249 by year four is typical for law enforcement and corrections roles, where advancement often requires additional certifications or moving into supervisory positions rather than automatic salary progression. While Mississippi College doesn't match the $43,400 starting salaries at Strayer University-Mississippi, it outpaces larger state schools like Ole Miss and delivers similar outcomes to the state median.

The critical caveat here is sample size—fewer than 30 graduates means one or two career outliers could skew these numbers significantly. For families comfortable with that uncertainty, this program offers a practical path into criminal justice without crushing debt. Just understand you're looking at a stable but modest-earning career field, and Mississippi College positions graduates competitively within that reality.