Criminal Justice and Corrections at South University-Richmond

South University-Richmond's criminal justice program produces earnings that land squarely in the middle nationally but trail other Virginia options—this ranks in just the 40th percentile among state programs. Starting salaries around $38,000 grow modestly to $42,000 by year four, which is respectable for the field but notably below what graduates earn at Liberty ($49,000), George Mason ($44,000), and several other Virginia schools.

The real concern is the debt load. At $56,000, graduates here carry more than double the typical debt for this degree—both nationally ($26,000) and within Virginia ($27,000). With first-year earnings of $38,000, you're looking at a debt burden that exceeds a full year's salary, placing this program in the bottom 5% nationally for debt levels. For a field where public sector jobs often come with salary caps, this creates a challenging repayment scenario that could stretch well into a graduate's 30s.

The 13% earnings growth and moderate sample size suggest the outcomes are fairly reliable, but the math here is straightforward: borrowing $56,000 to enter a $38,000 career creates financial pressure that comparable Virginia programs don't impose. Families should understand that other state options deliver similar or better career outcomes with half the debt burden.