Criminal Justice and Corrections at Strayer University-Georgia

Strayer University's Criminal Justice program commands premium tuition but delivers earnings that justify much of the cost. At $43,405 in first-year earnings, graduates significantly outpace both national ($37,856) and Georgia state medians ($37,330) for this field, ranking in the 81st percentile nationally. However, that $56,937 median debt load is more than double what students typically graduate with from other criminal justice programs—both nationally ($26,130) and within Georgia ($30,658).

The debt burden creates a challenging first few years, with graduates owing about 1.3 times their starting salary. But the program shows solid earning potential over time, with salaries growing 17% to $50,636 by year four. Within Georgia's criminal justice landscape, this program sits in the middle tier—behind higher-performers like Herzing Atlanta ($67,229) but ahead of established state schools like University of North Georgia ($41,598).

For families comfortable with higher educational debt in exchange for above-average earning potential, this program offers a viable path. The robust sample size gives confidence in these outcomes, and the 78% Pell Grant recipient rate suggests the school successfully serves students from various economic backgrounds. Just be prepared for several years of aggressive loan payments before the earning advantage becomes clear financial benefit.