Criminal Justice and Corrections at Rogers State University

Rogers State University's Criminal Justice program posts earnings right at the national median ($38,064 vs. $37,856 nationally), but there's a significant Oklahoma context: graduates here trail the state median by about $1,500, landing at the 40th percentile among Oklahoma programs. When you can get similar outcomes at East Central or Northeastern State—or substantially better returns at OU-Norman ($53,003)—you need a compelling reason to choose Rogers State beyond location convenience.

The debt story offers the strongest argument for this program. At $17,880, graduates here carry roughly $8,000 less debt than the state median and nearly half the national median. That 0.47 debt-to-earnings ratio means manageable monthly payments—a first-year salary covers the debt more than twice over. For students who need to minimize borrowing, particularly the 38% here on Pell grants, this matters substantially.

The critical caveat: we're looking at fewer than 30 graduates, so these numbers could shift dramatically year to year. For an anxious parent, the calculus is straightforward—if your child can access one of Oklahoma's higher-earning programs without taking on excessive debt, that's the better path. Choose Rogers State primarily if keeping debt minimal is the top priority, but recognize you're likely trading some earning potential to get there.