Criminal Justice and Corrections at Albizu University-Miami

Similar programs in Florida suggest this bachelor's degree leads to first-year earnings around $39,400—right at the state median for criminal justice degrees but still modest in absolute terms. With estimated debt of $26,800, graduates would face monthly payments of roughly $300, consuming about 9% of gross income. That's manageable on paper, but it leaves little margin for error when starting salaries cluster in the high-30s.

The bigger concern is the earnings ceiling. While some Florida criminal justice programs—like Herzing's Orlando campus or Saint Leo—place graduates earning $47,000 to $67,000 in their first year, most programs hover closer to the mid-30s to low-40s range nationally. Criminal justice careers often require additional certifications or advanced degrees to move beyond entry-level positions, and the 52% Pell grant rate here suggests many students are financing this degree with limited family support.

For families weighing this investment, the question becomes whether a bachelor's in criminal justice opens doors that experience or an associate degree wouldn't. If your child is committed to law enforcement or corrections and this program offers specific career placement support or connections with local agencies, the debt load won't derail them. But if they're exploring options or could access a lower-cost public alternative, comparable programs elsewhere might deliver similar outcomes with less financial pressure.