Criminal Justice and Corrections at Adrian College

Adrian College's Criminal Justice program shows promising long-term growth, but that strong 59% earnings jump from year one to year four doesn't fully compensate for a weak starting position. At $34,112, first-year earnings fall below both the national median ($37,856) and Michigan's median ($39,857) for this major. The 40th percentile ranking among Michigan programs puts it squarely in the bottom half of in-state options—notably trailing institutions like Ferris State ($44,897) and Lake Superior State ($43,937).

The debt picture offers some relief: at $30,500, it's higher than both national and state medians, but the 0.89 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe less than one year's starting salary. By year four, when earnings reach $54,055, that debt burden becomes much more manageable. However, with fewer than 30 graduates in this dataset, these numbers may not be reliable predictors of future outcomes.

For Michigan families, this program appears to underperform compared to other in-state options. While the earnings trajectory is encouraging, starting $5,700 below the state median creates a financial gap that takes years to close. Parents should carefully compare costs with programs like Ferris State, which offers both stronger starting salaries and similar accessibility.