Location: Magnolia, AR•In-State Tuition: $9,820•Out-of-State Tuition: $15,400•Admission Rate: 67%•Avg SAT: 1050
Median Earnings (1yr)
$28,541
5th percentile
25th percentile in Arkansas
Median Debt
$22,349
14% below national median
D/E Ratio: 0.78 ManageableSample: 23 graduates Limited data

Analysis

Starting at $28,541 puts Southern Arkansas University's criminal justice graduates at the bottom 5th percentile nationally and in the lower quarter of Arkansas programs—nearly $10,000 below what graduates earn at UA-Little Rock or Harding. While the program shows solid 37% earnings growth over four years, even that upward trajectory only reaches $39,183, still lagging behind where most Arkansas grads start. The $22,349 debt load is at least more manageable than state and national medians, creating a first-year ratio of 0.78 that isn't catastrophic.

The critical caveat here: these numbers come from fewer than 30 graduates, so they may not represent typical outcomes. That uncertainty compounds an already challenging value proposition. For a family considering criminal justice degrees in Arkansas, this program would need to offer compelling non-financial advantages—location, specific career connections, or personal circumstances—to justify the earnings gap. The online programs (Grantham, Strayer) show significantly higher early earnings, though whether that reflects the programs themselves or their student demographics is unclear.

If criminal justice is the goal and Southern Arkansas is under consideration for other strong reasons, the lower debt helps. But purely as a financial investment, Arkansas offers criminal justice programs with substantially better earnings outcomes at similar or lower debt levels.

Where Southern Arkansas University Main Campus Stands

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

Southern Arkansas University Main CampusOther criminal justice and corrections programs

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

Earnings Distribution

How Southern Arkansas University Main Campus graduates compare to all programs nationally

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus earns $29k — 5th 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
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus$28,541$39,183+37%
Strayer University-Arkansas$43,405$50,636+17%
University of Arkansas Grantham$50,520$47,671-6%
University of Arkansas$38,083$46,801+23%
Harding University$38,818$45,300+17%

Compare to Similar Programs in Arkansas

Criminal Justice and Corrections bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Arkansas (14 total in state)

Scroll to see more →

SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Southern Arkansas University Main CampusMagnolia$9,820$28,541$39,183$22,3490.78
University of Arkansas GranthamLIttle Rock$8,280$50,520$47,671$39,9720.79
Strayer University-ArkansasLittle Rock$13,920$43,405$50,636$56,9371.31
University of Arkansas at Little RockLittle Rock$8,455$40,989$43,058$30,0260.73
Harding UniversitySearcy$24,888$38,818$45,300$24,9550.64
University of ArkansasFayetteville$9,748$38,083$46,801$25,3850.67
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 Southern Arkansas University Main Campus, approximately 45% 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 23 graduates with reported earnings and 24 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.