Criminal Justice and Corrections at Southern Oregon University

Southern Oregon University's criminal justice graduates earn above-average salaries compared to the field nationally, but they're taking on proportionally more debt than most of their peers. Starting at just over $40,500, graduates place at the 66th percentile nationally—a solid outcome for a program with high accessibility (83% acceptance rate). Within Oregon, though, SOU sits squarely in the middle of the pack at the 60th percentile, trailing Portland State but essentially matching Western Oregon's outcomes.

The real concern is the debt picture. At $22,000, SOU graduates carry less than the national median, but they're borrowing more relative to their field than 80% of comparable programs nationwide. That means while the absolute dollar amount looks reasonable, criminal justice as a career path simply doesn't pay enough to make typical student debt burdens easy to manage. The 17% earnings growth over four years helps—reaching $47,500 by year four—but this is fundamentally a field where keeping debt low matters more than at higher-earning programs.

For families committed to criminal justice careers, SOU delivers competitive outcomes without excessive borrowing. The key is approaching this degree with open eyes: it's a path to steady public service work, not high earnings. If your student can minimize additional borrowing beyond that $22,000 median—through in-state tuition, living at home, or working during school—this becomes a more comfortable investment.