Criminal Justice and Corrections at Alfred University

Alfred University's criminal justice program starts graduates at just $22,618—ranking in the bottom 10% of New York programs and bottom 5% nationally. While debt is below the national median at $22,625, that still equals an entire year's starting salary, which matters when you're barely breaking $20,000. The good news is substantial earnings growth: graduates jump to $42,372 by year four, approaching the 75th percentile nationally. The bad news is that even this improved figure trails what top performers like Excelsior ($63K) and Utica ($46K) deliver from day one.

The small sample size here is crucial—these numbers represent fewer than 30 graduates, so individual outcomes swing the averages dramatically. One graduate landing a federal law enforcement position or another taking a gap year could significantly skew these figures. For parents, this means the data might not reliably predict your child's experience.

If your child is set on Alfred for other reasons (location, campus fit, specific faculty), understand they'll likely face lean early years unless they secure positions with federal agencies or relocate to higher-paying markets. The SUNY option at Delhi offers similar outcomes at likely lower tuition cost. Given the starting salary struggles and data uncertainty, you'd want strong assurance this program offers connections or opportunities that justify choosing it over more affordable state alternatives.