Criminal Justice and Corrections at Salem University

Salem University's Criminal Justice program ranks near the bottom nationally—5th percentile—and trails nearly every comparable program in West Virginia. First-year graduates earn just $25,665, roughly $9,000 below the state median and $12,000 below the national benchmark. Even the state's public universities like Fairmont State and Marshall substantially outperform Salem, while American Public University System graduates earn more than double. The debt burden of nearly $31,000 exceeds both state and national averages, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.21 that will stretch already-tight budgets.

The 43% earnings growth over four years does provide some relief, lifting graduates to $36,756, though this still lags the typical starting salary at peer institutions. With over half of Salem students receiving Pell grants, many families here are already financially stretched, making the combination of below-average earnings and above-average debt particularly challenging. The small sample size (under 30 graduates) adds uncertainty—these numbers might not reflect typical outcomes.

For families considering criminal justice degrees in West Virginia, the state's public universities offer substantially better earnings prospects at similar or lower debt levels. Unless Salem offers unique circumstances that justify the financial tradeoff, this program appears to be a difficult investment to justify when stronger alternatives exist within the state system.