Criminal Justice and Corrections at University of Nebraska-Lincoln

UNL's criminal justice program produces first-year earnings of $42,139, positioning it slightly above the Nebraska median and in the 75th percentile nationally. The estimated $22,561 in debt—based on similar programs at this institution—is notably lower than both state and national benchmarks for this field, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.54 that suggests manageable repayment for most graduates.

The caveat here is that debt figures are estimated from peer programs at UNL rather than reported outcomes specific to criminal justice graduates. That said, earning potential appears solid: the program outperforms seven of the state's thirteen criminal justice programs in first-year earnings, and the 15% income growth to $48,456 by year four indicates reasonable career progression. Criminal justice isn't typically a high-earning field—the national median sits at just $37,856—so UNL's performance relative to that baseline matters.

For parents evaluating this investment, the combination of above-average earnings and below-average estimated debt suggests favorable economics compared to most criminal justice programs. The real question is whether criminal justice aligns with your child's career goals, since the field has limited upward mobility compared to other bachelor's degrees. If law enforcement, corrections, or related public safety careers are the target, UNL appears to offer a more financially sound path than most alternatives.