Criminal Justice and Corrections at Southern University at New Orleans

Southern University at New Orleans graduates this program with debt levels that should concern any parent: $45,149 against first-year earnings of just $33,494. That's one of the highest debt loads in the country for this degree—95% of criminal justice programs nationwide saddle graduates with less debt. While earnings do match Louisiana's median for the field, they lag significantly behind the national average of $37,856. The sample size here is quite small (under 30 graduates), but the numbers still paint a difficult financial picture.

What makes this particularly challenging is the comparison to other Louisiana options. Herzing University-New Orleans graduates earn double what SUNO graduates make, while programs at UL Lafayette and Southeastern Louisiana produce similar earnings with roughly $15,000 less debt. Even accounting for SUNO's mission serving students from modest backgrounds (45% receive Pell grants), the debt burden here creates a tough start for graduates entering a field not known for high salaries.

The modest 4% earnings growth over four years offers little relief. At this debt level, loan payments will consume a substantial portion of monthly income, potentially for decades. Unless your family can significantly reduce borrowing through scholarships or other aid, Louisiana has several stronger options for criminal justice degrees that deliver comparable career outcomes without the crushing debt load.