Location: Cape Girardeau, MO•In-State Tuition: $9,496•Admission Rate: 79%•Avg SAT: 1018
Median Earnings (1yr)
$36,537
41st percentile
40th percentile in Missouri
Median Debt
$26,625
2% above national median
D/E Ratio: 0.73 ManageableSample: 73 graduates

Analysis

Southeast Missouri State's Criminal Justice program lands squarely in the middle of the pack—both nationally and within Missouri, where it sits near the 40th percentile. Starting earnings of $36,537 trail the state median by about $350 and fall below the national average as well. More concerning is the performance gap with Missouri's stronger programs: graduates from Park University and Columbia College earn 25-35% more in their first year, suggesting that program choice matters significantly within the state's criminal justice market.

The debt load of $26,625 is reasonable, resulting in a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.73. Earnings do grow 14% by year four, reaching $41,674, which is a decent trajectory for the field. For families who prioritize affordability and their student is already committed to criminal justice, Southeast Missouri State offers an accessible path into the profession without crushing debt. The program serves its purpose for students seeking entry into law enforcement or corrections work.

However, if your student has the academic credentials and flexibility, Missouri offers meaningfully better-performing programs at similar public institutions like Missouri Western State. The earnings difference—starting at nearly $40,000 versus $36,500—compounds over a career. For a family weighing Southeast Missouri State, the calculation hinges on whether geographic preference or admission certainty outweighs the opportunity to earn $3,000-$13,000 more annually from day one.

Where Southeast Missouri State University Stands

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

Southeast Missouri State UniversityOther criminal justice and corrections programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How Southeast Missouri State University graduates compare to all programs nationally

Southeast Missouri State University earns $37k — 41th percentile among criminal justice and corrections bachelors programs.

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
Southeast Missouri State University$36,537$41,674+14%
Missouri Baptist University$42,555$59,300+39%
Truman State University$32,176$50,100+56%
Saint Louis University$45,709$50,011+9%
Columbia College$46,195$47,907+4%

Compare to Similar Programs in Missouri

Criminal Justice and Corrections bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Missouri (26 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Southeast Missouri State UniversityCape Girardeau$9,496$36,537$41,674$26,6250.73
Park UniversityParkville$16,400$49,305$44,746$18,2990.37
Columbia CollegeColumbia$24,326$46,195$47,907$25,7500.56
Saint Louis UniversitySaint Louis$53,244$45,709$50,011$23,6940.52
Missouri Baptist UniversitySaint Louis$33,122$42,555$59,300$23,1870.54
Missouri Western State UniversitySaint Joseph$9,800$39,808$42,651$20,1490.51
National Median—$37,856—$26,1300.69

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 Southeast Missouri State University, approximately 29% 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 73 graduates with reported earnings and 84 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.