Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degree) at South University-Savannah Online

Median Earnings (1yr)

$37,713

49th percentile

60th percentile in Georgia

Median Debt

$55,652

113% above national median

Analysis

South University-Savannah Online's criminal justice program charges students more than twice the typical debt load for this field—$55,652 versus a national median of $26,130. While graduates do earn slightly above Georgia's median for the field (60th percentile statewide), that translates to just $37,713 in the first year, barely above the national average. The debt burden here ranks in the bottom 5% nationally, meaning 95% of similar programs saddle students with less debt.

The numbers tell a troubling story for a degree serving a predominantly low-income population (76% Pell recipients). Graduates carry debt equal to 1.5 times their first-year salary, and even four years out, when earnings reach $42,478, they're still managing this outsized burden. Compare this to Georgia's in-state options: graduates from Herzing University-Atlanta earn $67,229, and even mid-tier programs like Strayer deliver $43,405—both with typically lower debt loads.

For parents considering this online program, the math is stark: your child would be borrowing premium prices for middle-of-the-road outcomes in a field that doesn't command high salaries. Criminal justice graduates from this program face years of difficult debt payments on public sector or corrections salaries. Unless there are compelling personal circumstances that require this specific online format, Georgia offers substantially better value propositions for this career path.

Where South University-Savannah Online Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all criminal justice and corrections bachelors's programs nationally

Earnings Distribution

How South University-Savannah Online graduates compare to all programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School	1 Year	4 Years	Growth
South University-Savannah Online	$37,713	$42,478	+13%
Herzing University-Atlanta	$67,229	$58,875	-12%
Thomas University	$52,991	$58,064	+10%
University of Georgia	$37,405	$50,643	+35%
Strayer University-Georgia	$43,405	$50,636	+17%

Compare to Similar Programs in Georgia

Criminal Justice and Corrections bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Georgia (37 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
South University-Savannah OnlineSavannah	$16,546	$37,713	$42,478	$55,652	1.48
Herzing University-AtlantaAtlanta	$13,420	$67,229	$58,875	$28,399	0.42
Reinhardt UniversityWaleska	$28,420	$62,019	—	$27,475	0.44
Thomas UniversityThomasville	$11,640	$52,991	$58,064	$45,464	0.86
Strayer University-GeorgiaChamblee	$13,920	$43,405	$50,636	$56,937	1.31
DeVry University-GeorgiaDecatur	$17,488	$43,091	$46,188	$54,985	1.28
National Median	—	$37,856	—	$26,130	0.69

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with criminal justice and corrections graduates

Financial Examiners

Enforce or ensure compliance with laws and regulations governing financial and securities institutions and financial and real estate transactions. May examine, verify, or authenticate records.

$90,400/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Emergency Management Directors

Plan and direct disaster response or crisis management activities, provide disaster preparedness training, and prepare emergency plans and procedures for natural (e.g., hurricanes, floods, earthquakes), wartime, or technological (e.g., nuclear power plant emergencies or hazardous materials spills) disasters or hostage situations.

$86,130/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in criminal justice, corrections, and law enforcement administration. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Compliance Officers

Examine, evaluate, and investigate eligibility for or conformity with laws and regulations governing contract compliance of licenses and permits, and perform other compliance and enforcement inspection and analysis activities not classified elsewhere.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Environmental Compliance Inspectors

Inspect and investigate sources of pollution to protect the public and environment and ensure conformance with Federal, State, and local regulations and ordinances.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers

Monitor and evaluate compliance with equal opportunity laws, guidelines, and policies to ensure that employment practices and contracting arrangements give equal opportunity without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Government Property Inspectors and Investigators

Investigate or inspect government property to ensure compliance with contract agreements and government regulations.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Regulatory Affairs Specialists

Coordinate and document internal regulatory processes, such as internal audits, inspections, license renewals, or registrations. May compile and prepare materials for submission to regulatory agencies.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Customs Brokers

Prepare customs documentation and ensure that shipments meet all applicable laws to facilitate the import and export of goods. Determine and track duties and taxes payable and process payments on behalf of client. Sign documents under a power of attorney. Represent clients in meetings with customs officials and apply for duty refunds and tariff reclassifications. Coordinate transportation and storage of imported goods.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Detectives and Criminal Investigators

Conduct investigations related to suspected violations of federal, state, or local laws to prevent or solve crimes.

$77,270/yrJobs growth:

Police Identification and Records Officers

Collect evidence at crime scene, classify and identify fingerprints, and photograph evidence for use in criminal and civil cases.

$77,270/yrJobs growth:

Intelligence Analysts

Gather, analyze, or evaluate information from a variety of sources, such as law enforcement databases, surveillance, intelligence networks or geographic information systems. Use intelligence data to anticipate and prevent organized crime activities, such as terrorism.

$77,270/yrJobs growth:

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At South University-Savannah Online, approximately 76% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 76 graduates with reported earnings and 110 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.