Bachelor's-7% vs national median1,859 grads tracked
Criminal Justice and Corrections at Western Carolina University
Ranked 129th of 239 bachelor's programs in Criminal Justice and Corrections by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$42,025
middle 50%: $28,830 – $56,174
Median · 5 years out
$53,866
middle 50%: $42,856 – $67,723
Median · 10 years out
$61,198
middle 50%: $47,645 – $80,187
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Criminal Justice and Corrections (bachelor's) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Criminal Justice graduates begin with a median salary of $42k. Earnings increase to $61k after ten years.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.
Will the degree pay for itself?
Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.
Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).
Paid off in
7.6 yrs
≈ $8,637 total interest
Same major at other universities
Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis
$54,239 · 5 yrs out
Utah Tech University
$54,238 · 5 yrs out
Kennesaw State University
$54,181 · 5 yrs out
University of Houston - Victoria
$54,178 · 5 yrs out
Ferrum College
$54,051 · 5 yrs out
Ball State University
$54,032 · 5 yrs out
Georgia State University
$53,857 · 5 yrs out
Angelo State University
$53,826 · 5 yrs out
Georgia Gwinnett College
$53,767 · 5 yrs out
Truman State University
$53,634 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at El Paso
$53,621 · 5 yrs out
Chicago State University
$53,587 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Western Carolina University
Education (Doctorate)
$96,791 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$95,724 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$88,779 · 5 yrs out
Engineering, General (Bachelor's)
$88,474 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Bachelor's)
$86,622 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$86,297 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$86,297 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Master's)
$86,216 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$85,927 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$85,430 · 5 yrs out
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctorate)
$84,494 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)
$81,907 · 5 yrs out
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