Criminal Justice and Corrections at Missouri Southern State University

Missouri Southern's criminal justice associate's program shows a significant disconnect with other Missouri schools. At $38,030 four years out, graduates earn about $11,500 less than the state median for this program—landing in just the 25th percentile among Missouri criminal justice programs. Columbia College, for comparison, produces graduates earning nearly $48,000 at the same career stage. Even nationally, where criminal justice programs tend to pay modestly, this program falls below the median.

The one bright spot is debt: at $23,147, it's well below the national average (13th percentile), meaning graduates aren't saddled with crushing payments relative to their peers elsewhere. The 22% earnings growth from year one to year four also suggests some career progression. Still, starting at $31,000 and climbing to $38,000 in a state where other programs routinely produce $40,000+ earners raises questions about whether this program provides access to the same career opportunities.

The sample size here is quite small—fewer than 30 graduates—so these numbers could shift considerably with more data. For a family weighing this option, the key question is whether the lower debt justifies significantly lower earnings compared to other Missouri criminal justice programs. If local job connections or lower tuition make this accessible when other schools aren't, it could work. But families with options should look hard at what other in-state programs deliver.