Criminal Justice and Corrections at South University-Columbia

The $55,652 debt load here is the central problem—more than double what the typical South Carolina criminal justice graduate carries and over twice the national median. While earnings reach $42,478 by year four (beating South Carolina's median and ranking in the 60th percentile statewide), you're still looking at a debt burden that's 1.48 times first-year salary. That's a heavy anchor for a field where starting pay hovers around $38,000.

For context, several South Carolina schools produce criminal justice graduates earning similar or better salaries with far less debt. Columbia College graduates start at $50,500, and even programs with comparable early earnings like North Greenville saddle students with roughly half this debt load. The 13% earnings growth over four years is decent momentum, but it doesn't overcome the math: graduates here face monthly loan payments that will consume a much larger share of take-home pay than peers from other state programs.

The high Pell Grant percentage (58%) suggests many students here may be particularly vulnerable to this debt burden. If your child is set on criminal justice in South Carolina, you'd be wise to compare offers from public universities or private schools with stronger aid packages—the debt difference could mean thousands of dollars in breathing room each year after graduation.