Criminal Justice and Corrections at Virginia State University

Virginia State University's Criminal Justice program produces graduates earning $34,604 in their first year—below both the national median ($37,856) and Virginia's median ($39,404) for the field. Among Virginia's 23 criminal justice programs, this ranks at the 40th percentile, placing it in the bottom half of state options. While the $30,000 debt load is relatively modest (actually below national and state medians), graduates are still starting at nearly $5,000 less than peers at other Virginia schools.

The 14% earnings growth to $39,377 by year four helps close the gap, but it's worth noting that top programs in Virginia like Liberty ($48,855) and George Mason ($43,612) start graduates $9,000-$14,000 higher. For families paying similar tuition costs across Virginia's public and private institutions, that initial earnings difference matters—it's roughly $750 less in monthly pre-tax income compared to the state median.

The value proposition here depends heavily on net cost. With 71% of students receiving Pell grants and VSU's accessible admissions, if your child can attend at a significantly lower out-of-pocket cost than other Virginia options, the modest debt relative to earnings makes this workable. But if comparing similar financial aid packages, stronger-performing criminal justice programs in the state offer better immediate earning potential in a field where entry-level salary largely determines career trajectory.