Criminal Justice and Corrections at University of Nebraska at Kearney

At $40,128 in first-year earnings, University of Nebraska at Kearney's criminal justice graduates earn above both national and Nebraska medians for this field—but the real story is the debt. With just $19,250 owed at graduation, these students carry roughly $7,000 less than peer programs statewide and $7,000 less than the national median. That translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.48, meaning graduates can potentially pay off their loans in under six months of gross salary if they're aggressive about it. Among similar programs nationally, this debt level ranks in the 95th percentile for affordability.

The program performs solidly within Nebraska, landing at the 60th percentile for earnings—competitive but not exceptional. UNK trails the state's top programs like Nebraska-Lincoln by about $2,000 annually, though the earnings gap is modest enough that the debt advantage likely matters more for most families. Four-year earnings reach $43,670, showing reasonable 9% growth that suggests stable career progression in law enforcement or corrections roles.

For families concerned about education debt, this program delivers clear value: respectable earnings with significantly lower financial burden than alternatives. The combination makes it a practical choice for students committed to criminal justice careers, particularly those who want to stay in Nebraska where these credentials translate directly to state and local agency hiring.