Criminal Justice and Corrections at University of Southern Mississippi

Southern Mississippi's criminal justice program lands in the middle of the pack statewide—60th percentile among Mississippi schools—but graduates face an unusual problem. Starting salaries of $36,315 drop to $31,967 within four years, a 12% decline that's rare for bachelor's degrees. Meanwhile, competitors like Strayer Mississippi and Mississippi College are placing graduates into jobs paying $6,000-$7,000 more from the start, and those earnings typically hold steady or grow.

The $21,125 debt load is actually a bright spot here, running about $5,000 below both state and national medians for criminal justice programs. That lower borrowing means the initial debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.58 looks manageable. But the earnings trajectory complicates things—by year four, graduates are earning less than they did fresh out of school, suggesting many end up in positions with limited advancement or are cycling between jobs rather than building careers.

For families considering this program, the real question is whether that earnings pattern reflects the regional job market for all criminal justice graduates or something specific to career placement and advising here. The moderate debt offers some cushion, but starting $7,000 behind Strayer Mississippi grads and then losing ground over time adds up to real money. If your student is set on criminal justice in Mississippi, they should understand they'll likely be competing for entry-level positions that don't grow much—and the program itself doesn't appear to be opening doors to the better-paying roles in the state.