Criminal Justice and Corrections at The University of Tennessee-Martin

UT-Martin's criminal justice program produces graduates earning substantially less than what the field typically offers. First-year graduates earn just $32,167—roughly $6,000 below Tennessee's state median and nearly $6,000 below the national benchmark. This lands the program in the 14th percentile nationally, meaning 86% of criminal justice programs nationwide report better starting salaries. Even within Tennessee, where this ranks at the 40th percentile, graduates from top state programs like Bethel University and Cumberland University start at over $45,000.

The debt picture offers some relief: at $22,671, graduates borrow about $4,000 less than the national median for criminal justice programs. This keeps the debt-to-earnings ratio at 0.70, manageable though not particularly advantageous given the low starting salary. Earnings do grow 21% by year four to nearly $39,000, but that still trails what many graduates at peer institutions earn right out of school.

For families considering this program, the core challenge is clear—you're likely starting behind peers from other Tennessee schools, and the lower debt doesn't fully compensate for that earnings gap. Unless UT-Martin's location or specific program features align with your child's career plans (perhaps local law enforcement connections in West Tennessee), stronger-performing in-state alternatives exist at similar tuition rates.