Criminal Justice and Corrections at South University-Savannah Online

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.