Criminal Justice and Corrections at University of North Carolina at Pembroke

UNC Pembroke's Criminal Justice program outperforms the majority of North Carolina schools in this field, landing at the 60th percentile statewide despite tuition starting below $20,000 for in-state students. With median debt of $27,000 and first-year earnings of $35,553, graduates face manageable repayment—the 0.76 debt-to-earnings ratio means they'd owe less than one year's salary. Nearly half the student body receives Pell grants, suggesting this serves as an accessible path into law enforcement and corrections careers for first-generation college students.

The earnings trajectory shows solid progression, with salaries climbing 13% to just over $40,000 by year four. While this trails the national median by about $2,400 initially, it exceeds the North Carolina median by over $1,000—meaningful in a state where criminal justice degrees are common (36 schools offer them). The program won't match private schools like Strayer or Campbell, but it delivers comparable outcomes to peer regional universities at considerably lower cost.

For families weighing affordability against outcomes, this represents a practical choice. The combination of reasonable debt, steady earnings growth, and above-average performance within North Carolina makes it a solid option for students committed to criminal justice careers, particularly those who need to keep borrowing minimal.