Criminal Justice and Corrections at Wichita State University

Wichita State's criminal justice program produces graduates earning just under $40,000 within four years—essentially flat growth from their first-year salary. While these earnings slightly edge out the national median, they trail the Kansas state median by roughly $1,000, placing this program in only the 40th percentile among Kansas schools. That matters because Kansas employers aren't known for premium criminal justice salaries, yet this program still underperforms within its own market.

The bigger concern is the opportunity cost. Top Kansas programs like Southwestern College and Central Christian produce graduates earning 50-60% more, suggesting that criminal justice careers in Kansas offer genuine upward mobility—just not through this particular program. The debt load of $27,000 isn't catastrophic at a 0.71 ratio to first-year earnings, but it's above the state median, and you're essentially repaying it against a salary that barely budges over four years. With a 95% admission rate, access isn't the draw here.

For a family weighing this investment, the question is whether $38,000-$39,000 represents acceptable entry into law enforcement or corrections work. If your student is set on this career path and staying local, the numbers work marginally better than the national average. But they should understand they're choosing a plateau rather than a launch pad, particularly when Kansas offers demonstrably stronger alternatives at schools like Fort Hays or Washburn that deliver 10-20% higher earnings.