Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degree) at Southwestern Oklahoma State University

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$39,609

Est. from OK median (7 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$21,553

Est. from OK median (7 programs)

Analysis

Based on comparable criminal justice programs in Oklahoma, graduates typically earn around $39,600 in their first year—a figure that places Southwestern Oklahoma State near the middle of the pack statewide but slightly above the national median for this field. The estimated debt of $21,500 is notably lower than what most criminal justice graduates across the country face, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.54 that suggests the loan burden should be manageable on an entry-level salary in law enforcement or corrections.

What's less certain is whether Southwestern Oklahoma State's specific program delivers outcomes closer to the state average or to programs like University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus, where graduates earn $53,000—a $13,000 premium that could reflect better networking, training facilities, or employer relationships. The wide earnings spread among Oklahoma programs (from $38,000 to $53,000) means the difference between scraping by and building financial stability early in a criminal justice career.

The practical takeaway: the estimated debt burden appears reasonable, but parents should investigate what distinguishes higher-earning programs in the state. Does Southwestern Oklahoma State offer comparable internship placements, training certifications, or hiring pipelines to state and federal agencies? Without actual graduate outcomes for this specific program, those program-level details matter more than the state averages suggest.

Where Southwestern Oklahoma State University Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Oklahoma

Criminal Justice and Corrections bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Oklahoma (17 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Southwestern Oklahoma State UniversityWeatherford	$8,295	$39,609*	—	$21,553*	—
University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusNorman	$9,595	$53,003*	$54,438	$27,156*	0.51
East Central UniversityAda	$8,032	$41,437*	$41,685	$21,553*	0.52
Northeastern State UniversityTahlequah	$7,513	$39,668*	$44,016	$23,050*	0.58
University of Central OklahomaEdmond	$8,522	$39,609*	$44,492	$22,875*	0.58
Rogers State UniversityClaremore	$7,392	$38,064*	—	$17,880*	0.47
National Median	—	$37,856*	—	$26,130*	0.69

* Estimated from similar programs

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 Southwestern Oklahoma State University, approximately 38% 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.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 7 similar programs in OK. Actual outcomes may vary.