Location: New Orleans, LA•In-State Tuition: $7,490•Out-of-State Tuition: $16,390•Admission Rate: 60%•Avg SAT: 910
Median Earnings (1yr)
$33,494
21st percentile
60th percentile in Louisiana
Median Debt
$45,149
73% above national median
D/E Ratio: 1.35 ElevatedSample: 21 graduates Limited data

Analysis

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.

Where Southern University at New Orleans Stands

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

Southern University at New OrleansOther criminal justice and corrections programs

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

Earnings Distribution

How Southern University at New Orleans graduates compare to all programs nationally

Southern University at New Orleans earns $33k — 21th 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 University at New Orleans$33,494$34,840+4%
Herzing University-New Orleans$67,229$58,875-12%
Southeastern Louisiana University$35,024$40,411+15%
University of Louisiana at Monroe$36,313$39,814+10%
Northwestern State University of Louisiana$30,559$39,510+29%

Compare to Similar Programs in Louisiana

Criminal Justice and Corrections bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Louisiana (16 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Southern University at New OrleansNew Orleans$7,490$33,494$34,840$45,1491.35
Herzing University-New OrleansMetairie$13,420$67,229$58,875$28,3990.42
Louisiana State University-AlexandriaAlexandria$7,050$39,917$37,848$26,9540.68
University of Louisiana at MonroeMonroe$9,190$36,313$39,814$23,2500.64
University of Louisiana at LafayetteLafayette$10,418$35,872$39,037$23,5570.66
Southeastern Louisiana UniversityHammond$8,373$35,024$40,411$25,0000.71
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 University at New Orleans, 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 21 graduates with reported earnings and 38 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.