Criminology at William Peace University

William Peace University's criminology graduates earn $41,509 one year out—about $7,000 more than the typical North Carolina criminology graduate and $4,000 above the national median. Among the six NC schools offering this program, it ranks in the 60th percentile, outpacing larger institutions like NC State and UNC Wilmington. At 82nd percentile nationally, these graduates are doing considerably better than most of their peers across the country. The $26,000 median debt sits right near national and state benchmarks, creating a reasonable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.63.

The major caveat here is sample size—with fewer than 30 graduates in the data, these numbers could shift significantly year to year. A single cohort with unusually strong or weak outcomes could skew results. That said, the university's 97% admission rate and modest SAT scores suggest these earnings aren't driven by selectivity but by practical program outcomes or regional job market factors.

For parents weighing in-state options, this program appears to deliver stronger immediate earnings than more prominent universities in the state, though that advantage needs validation with larger cohorts. The debt load is manageable relative to first-year income, making this a potentially solid choice if the pattern holds—just recognize you're looking at limited data.