U.S. median for this major: $55,208.
College Scorecard field of study; 44 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 58% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $26,000.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $22,810. College Scorecard.
McNeese State University Criminal Justice: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Criminal Justice nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses McNeese State University's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $10,482 | $46,330 | 3.4 years |
| $30–48k | $11,067 | $48,916 | 3.6 years |
| $48–75k | $11,640 | $51,449 | 3.7 years |
| $75–110k | $16,190 | $71,560 | 5.2 years |
| $110k+ | $18,250 | $80,665 | 5.9 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.4 years, the average time graduates took (34% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Criminal Justice graduates 4 years after graduating ($46,223) minus $32,488 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in LA (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $13,735 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Criminal Justice at Louisiana colleges
Every Louisiana college we cover that reports Criminal Justice graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants. Colleges marked "mostly 2-year" or "bachelor's & associate" award more associate degrees than bachelor's; their bachelor's programs often serve working adults finishing a degree (for example, nurses completing a BSN), so their graduates' earnings can run higher than those of students starting college at 18.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Herzing University-New Orleansbachelor's & associate | $69,601 | $28,399 | $21,269 | 15% |
| 2 | Louisiana State University-Alexandria | $52,560 | $26,954 | $7,065 | 34% |
| 3 | Dillard University | $49,687 | $32,187 | $22,094 | 43% |
| 4 | Southern University and A & M College | $49,609 | $31,000 | $20,077 | 27% |
| 5 | Southern University Law Center | $49,609 | $31,000 | — | — |
| 6 | University of Louisiana at Lafayette | $49,201 | $23,557 | $13,530 | 53% |
| 7 | McNeese State University | $46,223 | $27,000 | $12,493 | 47% |
| 8 | Southeastern Louisiana University | $45,393 | $25,000 | $13,154 | 45% |
| 9 | Southern University at New Orleans | $44,723 | $45,149 | $14,810 | 13% |
| 10 | Northwestern State University of Louisiana | $44,267 | $31,000 | $13,606 | 43% |
| 11 | Grambling State University | $44,033 | $39,871 | $19,809 | 36% |
| 12 | University of Louisiana at Monroe | $43,699 | $23,250 | $13,466 | 54% |
| 13 | Remington College-Shreveport Campusmostly 2-year | $37,199 | $48,338 | $30,758 | 33% |
3 more Louisiana colleges offer Criminal Justice but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Criminal Justice graduates
Police officer
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +3.5% by 2035. Typical entry: high school diploma or equivalent.
Compliance Officers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +3.8% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Child, Family, and School Social Workers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +4.4% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at McNeese State University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About McNeese State University
- Acceptance rate: 78% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 47% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $46,453
- Full cost breakdown · all 32 majors · overview
McNeese State University Criminal Justice questions
How much do McNeese State University Criminal Justice graduates earn?
Criminal Justice graduates of McNeese State University earn a median $46,223 four years after graduating and $34,178 one year after. The U.S. median for Criminal Justice graduates across 584 colleges is $55,208.
How much debt do McNeese State University Criminal Justice graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Criminal Justice graduates of McNeese State University is $27,000, about 58% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $26,000.
Is McNeese State University a good school for Criminal Justice in Louisiana?
On pay, Criminal Justice graduates of McNeese State University earn $46,223 four years out, $0 above the median for the same major across 13 Louisiana colleges ($46,223) and $8,985 below the U.S. median ($55,208). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does McNeese State University rank for Criminal Justice in Louisiana?
Of 13 Louisiana colleges reporting Criminal Justice graduate earnings, McNeese State University ranks 7th; among the 11 that mostly award bachelor's degrees it ranks 6th. The highest is Herzing University-New Orleans at $69,601.
What jobs do Criminal Justice graduates get?
A common career is police officer, with a median wage of $56,290 in the Lake Charles, LA area and $76,210 nationally. Others include compliance officers and child, family, and school social workers.
Is McNeese State University the right fit for your family?
Get a free report comparing McNeese State University with up to 4 other schools on what you'd actually pay, what graduates in your major earn, and how each fits your priorities.
Build my free reportCheck my chances of getting inWe never share your contact information.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “McNeese State University Criminal Justice: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/mcneese-state-university/majors/criminal-justice (College Scorecard and BLS data).