Criminal Justice and Corrections at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College

This program delivers notably better debt outcomes than most Mississippi criminal justice associates—graduates here carry $10,000 compared to the state median of $14,082—but the earnings lag behind what top community colleges in the state achieve. While starting pay of $28,817 sits right at Mississippi's median for this field, it's roughly $4,000 below what graduates from Itawamba Community College earn in similar roles.

The 15% earnings growth to $33,060 by year four is encouraging, though that puts graduates just above the poverty line for a family of four even after several years of career progression. At a 0.35 debt-to-earnings ratio, the debt burden is manageable compared to many criminal justice programs nationally, where median debt exceeds $14,000. For students likely to remain in Mississippi's lower-wage law enforcement market, keeping debt under control matters more than chasing slightly higher starting salaries elsewhere.

The caveat here is sample size—fewer than 30 graduates means these numbers could swing significantly year to year. If your child is committed to criminal justice work in Mississippi and cost is the primary concern, this program won't saddle them with crushing debt. But if maximizing earning potential matters, Itawamba's program shows that community colleges in this state can deliver $4,000-5,000 more in starting salary, which compounds significantly over a career.