Criminal Justice and Corrections at Savannah State University

At $30,195 in first-year earnings, Savannah State's Criminal Justice program ranks in the bottom 5% nationally—significantly below both the national median ($37,856) and Georgia's state median ($37,330). While students see solid 33% earnings growth by year four, reaching $40,292, they're starting from a position that makes the $33,875 debt load harder to manage. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.12 means graduates owe more than their entire first year's salary, a challenging position in a field where entry-level pay is already modest.

The gap within Georgia is striking. Top-performing state programs like Herzing University-Atlanta ($67,229) and Reinhardt University ($62,019) deliver earnings more than double what Savannah State graduates see initially. Even mid-tier Georgia programs outperform by $7,000-13,000 in first-year earnings. Given that 65% of Savannah State students receive Pell grants, many families here are making this investment with limited financial cushion.

For families committed to this field, community college pathways or Georgia programs with stronger employment pipelines deserve serious consideration. The earnings trajectory improves over time, but starting this far behind regional and national peers creates real financial pressure during the critical early career years when loan payments begin.