Criminal Justice and Corrections at University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff

Criminal justice degrees rarely command high salaries, but this particular program presents an additional concern: its graduates earn roughly $2,500 below the Arkansas state median and lag $2,300 behind the national average. Among the 14 Arkansas schools offering this degree, UAPB ranks in just the 40th percentile—meaning six in-state competitors deliver better outcomes. The University of Arkansas at Little Rock, for instance, posts median earnings of $41,000, nearly $5,500 more annually. Over a career, that gap compounds significantly.

The $27,000 debt load sits near national norms and represents about 76% of first-year earnings—manageable on paper. But here's the problem: earnings show zero growth between year one and year four. Graduates essentially earn the same $35,500 whether they're fresh out of college or four years into their careers, suggesting limited advancement opportunities in the roles these graduates secure. For a field where entry-level positions often plateau quickly without civil service advancement, this stagnation matters.

For families considering this program, the comparison to nearby alternatives is stark. If a student can gain admission to UA Little Rock or another higher-performing Arkansas program, the earnings advantage likely justifies any additional effort. At UAPB's price point, this degree may serve students committed to staying local or working in Pine Bluff specifically, but it's not positioned competitively within the state's criminal justice education landscape.