Criminal Justice and Corrections at Murray State University

Murray State's criminal justice program shows a troubling first-year salary of just $32,041—nearly $6,000 below the national median and $1,000 below Kentucky's average. That puts it in the 13th percentile nationally, meaning 87% of similar programs produce better initial outcomes. The debt load of $22,875 isn't enormous, but when your starting salary is this low, it creates a debt-to-earnings ratio that stretches to 0.71. Compare that to University of Louisville, where criminal justice grads earn $38,728 right away, or even smaller schools like Thomas More at $35,115.

The program does show strong earnings growth—graduates see incomes jump to $48,090 by year four, a 50% increase that's actually impressive. This suggests the degree opens doors to career advancement, even if it doesn't position graduates well for entry-level salaries. Still, that four-year mark should be your starting point with most competitive programs, not something you're working toward after years in the field.

The critical caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so these numbers could swing significantly with a different cohort. If your child is set on criminal justice in Kentucky, they'd likely do better at Louisville or one of the mid-tier options. Murray State might work if cost is the primary driver and you're comfortable with several lean years after graduation.