Criminal Justice and Corrections at University of Memphis

University of Memphis's Criminal Justice program lands squarely in the middle of the pack—both nationally and within Tennessee. At $35,900 in first-year earnings, graduates earn slightly less than the state median ($35,917) and fall in the 40th percentile among Tennessee programs. The debt load of $27,000 is manageable, creating a reasonable 0.75 debt-to-earnings ratio, though the program's graduates still earn roughly $18,000 less initially than peers from Bethel University, the state's top performer.

The positive side is steady earnings growth: salaries jump 23% to $44,058 by year four, suggesting decent career progression in law enforcement and corrections roles. With a 93% admission rate and 40% of students on Pell grants, this program serves as an accessible pathway into criminal justice careers for working-class Tennessee students. The robust sample size (100+ graduates) means these numbers are reliable indicators of what to expect.

For families considering this program, it's a safe but unremarkable choice. Your child won't graduate with crushing debt, and earnings improve meaningfully over time. However, if they can gain admission to Middle Tennessee State or UT-Chattanooga—both similarly accessible public universities—they'd see comparable or better outcomes. This makes sense if Memphis is home and your child wants to stay local, but it's not worth paying out-of-state tuition or choosing over stronger in-state alternatives.