Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degree) at University of Central Oklahoma

Median Earnings (1yr)

$39,609

60th percentile

Median Debt

$22,875

12% below national median

Analysis

University of Central Oklahoma's criminal justice program sits right at the Oklahoma median for earnings while carrying slightly more debt than typical state programs—a positioning that reveals both its accessibility and its limits. At $39,609 in first-year earnings, graduates match the state average exactly and outpace the national benchmark by about $1,750. However, the program ranks in the 76th percentile nationally for debt, meaning only a quarter of similar programs leave students with higher balances.

The real gap appears when comparing UCO to top Oklahoma options. University of Oklahoma graduates earn $13,000 more annually—a substantial premium that compounds over a career in law enforcement or corrections. Even East Central and Northeastern State edge ahead by a couple thousand dollars while maintaining similar debt loads. The 12% earnings growth to $44,492 by year four helps narrow this gap somewhat, but it doesn't close it entirely.

For families weighing cost against outcomes, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.58 remains manageable—graduates should handle their monthly payments on typical criminal justice salaries. The question is whether UCO offers enough value given that peers across Oklahoma produce similar or better results at comparable prices. Unless location in Edmond specifically matters for your student's career plans, exploring those higher-earning alternatives makes sense before committing.

Where University of Central Oklahoma Stands

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

Earnings Distribution

How University of Central Oklahoma graduates compare to all programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School	1 Year	4 Years	Growth
University of Central Oklahoma	$39,609	$44,492	+12%
University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus	$53,003	$54,438	+3%
Northeastern State University	$39,668	$44,016	+11%
East Central University	$41,437	$41,685	+1%
Cameron University	$37,494	$39,878	+6%

Compare to Similar Programs in Oklahoma

Criminal Justice and Corrections bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Oklahoma (17 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
University of Central OklahomaEdmond	$8,522	$39,609	$44,492	$22,875	0.58
University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusNorman	$9,595	$53,003	$54,438	$27,156	0.51
East Central UniversityAda	$8,032	$41,437	$41,685	$21,553	0.52
Northeastern State UniversityTahlequah	$7,513	$39,668	$44,016	$23,050	0.58
Rogers State UniversityClaremore	$7,392	$38,064	—	$17,880	0.47
Cameron UniversityLawton	$6,900	$37,494	$39,878	$20,328	0.54
National Median	—	$37,856	—	$26,130	0.69

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 Central Oklahoma, approximately 35% 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 44 graduates with reported earnings and 86 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.