Location: Fayetteville, AR•In-State Tuition: $9,748•Out-of-State Tuition: $28,772•Admission Rate: 72%•Avg SAT: 1174
Median Earnings (1yr)
$38,083
51st percentile
60th percentile in Arkansas
Median Debt
$25,385
3% below national median
D/E Ratio: 0.67 ManageableSample: 82 graduates

Analysis

The University of Arkansas criminal justice program lands squarely in the middle of the pack—60th percentile among Arkansas schools and 51st nationally—but that middling position comes with a crucial advantage: below-average debt. At $25,385, graduates here borrow about $1,000 less than the national median while earning virtually identical starting salaries. This puts the program slightly ahead of most in-state alternatives except for online options like UA Grantham and Strayer, which report significantly higher earnings but serve very different student populations.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.67 is manageable, meaning graduates owe roughly eight months of their first-year salary. More encouraging is the 23% earnings growth by year four, reaching $46,801—a trajectory that suggests this degree opens doors to career advancement rather than leaving graduates stuck in entry-level positions. For context, many criminal justice programs see graduates plateau much earlier.

The fundamental question here isn't whether this program delivers value—it does, modestly—but whether criminal justice as a field justifies the investment. Starting at $38,000 in Arkansas is reasonable for the profession, but families should recognize they're choosing a public service career path rather than a high-earning one. If your student is committed to law enforcement or corrections work, UA Fayetteville offers a cost-effective route without excessive debt burdens.

Where University of Arkansas Stands

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

University of ArkansasOther criminal justice and corrections programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How University of Arkansas graduates compare to all programs nationally

University of Arkansas earns $38k — 51th percentile among criminal justice and corrections bachelors programs.

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
University of Arkansas$38,083$46,801+23%
Strayer University-Arkansas$43,405$50,636+17%
University of Arkansas Grantham$50,520$47,671-6%
Harding University$38,818$45,300+17%
University of Arkansas at Little Rock$40,989$43,058+5%

Compare to Similar Programs in Arkansas

Criminal Justice and Corrections bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Arkansas (14 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
University of ArkansasFayetteville$9,748$38,083$46,801$25,3850.67
University of Arkansas GranthamLIttle Rock$8,280$50,520$47,671$39,9720.79
Strayer University-ArkansasLittle Rock$13,920$43,405$50,636$56,9371.31
University of Arkansas at Little RockLittle Rock$8,455$40,989$43,058$30,0260.73
Harding UniversitySearcy$24,888$38,818$45,300$24,9550.64
University of Arkansas at Pine BluffPine Bluff$9,019$35,532$35,560$27,0000.76
National Median—$37,856—$26,1300.69

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 University of Arkansas, approximately 17% 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.

Sample Size: Based on 82 graduates with reported earnings and 92 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.