Criminal Justice and Corrections at University of Alabama at Birmingham

UAB's Criminal Justice program starts graduates at $34,459—well below both the national median ($37,856) and Alabama's average ($36,216) for this field. While that places it in the bottom third nationally, the real story unfolds over time: earnings jump 29% to $44,301 by year four, actually surpassing most benchmark figures and narrowing the gap with programs that charge significantly more.

The debt load of $27,307 is reasonable, resulting in a manageable 0.79 debt-to-earnings ratio. That's better than many criminal justice programs, which often see graduates struggling with higher debt for similar starting salaries. The catch is those first few years: you'll need to weather below-market earnings initially, though many criminal justice careers have structured pay scales that reward experience. The state ranking at the 40th percentile reflects this starting disadvantage, but UAB's relatively selective admissions (88% rate with 1251 average SAT) and the strong four-year earnings suggest graduates are moving into positions with real advancement potential.

The critical question is whether your student can afford to start below market rate. If they're pursuing law enforcement or corrections—fields where raises come with tenure—this trajectory makes sense. But if they need higher immediate earnings, programs like Troy or Faulkner start graduates closer to $42-54k from day one, albeit at potentially higher cost. UAB offers a bet on growth rather than immediate returns.