Location: Charlotte, NC•In-State Tuition: $7,214•Out-of-State Tuition: $21,876•Admission Rate: 80%•Avg SAT: 1202
Median Earnings (1yr)
$36,155
38th percentile
60th percentile in North Carolina
Median Debt
$23,250
11% below national median
D/E Ratio: 0.64 ManageableSample: 291 graduates

Analysis

UNC Charlotte's criminal justice program lands in a middle ground that requires careful consideration of the numbers. Graduates start at $36,155—below the national average but comfortably above North Carolina's median of $34,463, placing it at the 60th percentile statewide. That's meaningful context: this program outperforms three out of five NC competitors in a state with 36 criminal justice programs. The debt load of $23,250 keeps the first-year ratio manageable at 0.64, though it sits higher than most programs nationally.

The stronger case emerges in the four-year trajectory. Earnings climb to $45,493, a 26% increase that suggests graduates successfully advance into supervisory or specialized roles. This growth outpaces what many criminal justice programs deliver and narrows the gap with higher-earning competitors. For a program at an 80%-admission-rate university serving substantial numbers of Pell Grant students, these outcomes demonstrate solid workforce preparation.

For families weighing options, this program offers reasonable value if your child plans to stay in North Carolina and commit to career progression in the field. The debt is manageable relative to starting salary, and the earnings growth indicates career mobility. However, parents should recognize that criminal justice typically caps lower than many bachelor's degrees—the $45,000 four-year mark, while respectable for this field, won't match tech or business outcomes from the same university.

Where University of North Carolina at Charlotte Stands

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

University of North Carolina at CharlotteOther criminal justice and corrections programs

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

Earnings Distribution

How University of North Carolina at Charlotte graduates compare to all programs nationally

University of North Carolina at Charlotte earns $36k — 38th 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 North Carolina at Charlotte$36,155$45,493+26%
Strayer University-North Carolina$43,405$50,636+17%
East Carolina University$36,374$47,167+30%
Campbell University$40,590$46,459+14%
Western Carolina University$38,682$46,331+20%

Compare to Similar Programs in North Carolina

Criminal Justice and Corrections bachelors's programs at peer institutions in North Carolina (36 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
University of North Carolina at CharlotteCharlotte$7,214$36,155$45,493$23,2500.64
Strayer University-North CarolinaGreensboro$13,920$43,405$50,636$56,9371.31
University of Mount OliveMount Olive$25,950$40,639$43,107$34,5350.85
Campbell UniversityBuies Creek$40,410$40,590$46,459$27,0000.67
Lees-McRae CollegeBanner Elk$31,140$39,811$31,811$15,0000.38
Wingate UniversityWingate$40,196$39,498—$27,0000.68
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 North Carolina at Charlotte, approximately 34% 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 291 graduates with reported earnings and 306 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.