Criminal Justice and Corrections at North Carolina A & T State University

North Carolina A&T's criminal justice program sits squarely in the middle of the state's options—not among the highest earners, but performing reasonably for what students pay. Graduates earn $32,152 initially, rising to $37,857 by year four, placing this program right at the 40th percentile among North Carolina's 36 criminal justice programs. While several NC schools see their grads earning $40,000+, A&T's outcomes align closely with the state median of $34,463.

The debt picture is manageable at $27,798, nearly identical to both state and national medians for this field. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.86, graduates can reasonably expect to handle their loan payments, though criminal justice broadly isn't a high-earning field. The 18% earnings growth from year one to year four suggests steady career progression, which matters when starting salaries are modest. The robust sample size of 100+ graduates makes these figures reliable.

For families considering this program, it represents a safe middle option rather than a standout investment. If your child is passionate about criminal justice and values A&T's HBCU environment and community (evidenced by the 51% Pell Grant population), the program delivers predictable, if unspectacular, returns. However, if maximizing earnings is the priority, several NC alternatives consistently produce graduates earning $7,000-11,000 more annually.