Criminal Justice and Corrections at Regent University

Regent's Criminal Justice program punches significantly above the national average—earning more than 95% of similar programs nationwide—while keeping debt notably lower than typical borrowing for this field. At $46,005 in first-year earnings against $21,237 in debt, graduates face a manageable 0.46 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning they borrow less than half their starting salary. That's a stronger financial position than most criminal justice programs deliver.

The Virginia picture adds helpful nuance. While Regent trails Liberty and Shenandoah by a small margin, it sits comfortably in the upper tier of the state's 23 programs and charges less than Virginia's median debt of $27,000. Students here graduate with roughly $5,800 less debt than the state average while earning $6,600 more. That combination matters for a field where salaries don't typically soar—criminal justice careers reward careful program selection since starting wages cluster in a narrow band.

The debt load deserves emphasis: graduating with $21,237 is manageable on a $46,000 salary, particularly compared to the national norm of $26,130 for this degree. For families concerned about loan payments eating into a public service salary, Regent structures this program to avoid that trap. It's a practical choice for students committed to criminal justice work who want solid earnings without excessive borrowing.