Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degree) at Aurora University

Median Earnings (1yr)

$44,150

85th percentile

60th percentile in Illinois

Median Debt

$23,635

10% below national median

Analysis

Aurora University's criminal justice program starts graduates at $44,150—well above both the national median ($37,856) and Illinois average ($39,317)—then delivers impressive 32% earnings growth to reach $58,259 by year four. That trajectory puts this program in the top 15% nationally for criminal justice outcomes, though it ranks closer to the middle among Illinois programs. Still, only Benedictine achieves meaningfully higher starting salaries in-state, and Aurora's strong earnings growth suggests graduates are advancing into better positions rather than plateauing in entry-level roles.

The $23,635 debt load is manageable relative to first-year earnings, creating a debt-to-income ratio of 0.54—lower than most criminal justice programs nationally. For context, the moderate sample size means these numbers reflect 30-100 graduates, but the pattern is clear: students are finding solid employment and climbing the career ladder. With 43% of Aurora students on Pell grants, this represents a genuine pathway to economic mobility in law enforcement, corrections, or related fields.

The value proposition is straightforward: Aurora charges slightly less debt than typical criminal justice programs while delivering above-average starting salaries and strong momentum. Parents of students serious about criminal justice careers—particularly those who need affordable access to quality education—should view this as a solid return on investment.

Where Aurora University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all criminal justice and corrections bachelors's programs nationally

Earnings Distribution

How Aurora University graduates compare to all programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School	1 Year	4 Years	Growth
Aurora University	$44,150	$58,259	+32%
Elmhurst University	$38,352	$66,495	+73%
Loyola University Chicago	$38,953	$61,200	+57%
Western Illinois University	$40,898	$57,113	+40%
Saint Xavier University	$39,033	$56,487	+45%

Compare to Similar Programs in Illinois

Criminal Justice and Corrections bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Illinois (33 total in state)

Scroll to see more →

School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Aurora UniversityAurora	$28,220	$44,150	$58,259	$23,635	0.54
Benedictine UniversityLisle	$34,290	$46,020	—	$25,979	0.56
University of St FrancisJoliet	$37,000	$43,793	$43,109	—	—
North Park UniversityChicago	$35,325	$43,519	$48,806	—	—
DeVry University-IllinoisLisle	$17,488	$43,091	$46,188	$54,985	1.28
Governors State UniversityUniversity Park	$11,320	$42,456	$51,833	$22,889	0.54
National Median	—	$37,856	—	$26,130	0.69

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with criminal justice and corrections graduates

Financial Examiners

Enforce or ensure compliance with laws and regulations governing financial and securities institutions and financial and real estate transactions. May examine, verify, or authenticate records.

$90,400/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Emergency Management Directors

Plan and direct disaster response or crisis management activities, provide disaster preparedness training, and prepare emergency plans and procedures for natural (e.g., hurricanes, floods, earthquakes), wartime, or technological (e.g., nuclear power plant emergencies or hazardous materials spills) disasters or hostage situations.

$86,130/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in criminal justice, corrections, and law enforcement administration. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Compliance Officers

Examine, evaluate, and investigate eligibility for or conformity with laws and regulations governing contract compliance of licenses and permits, and perform other compliance and enforcement inspection and analysis activities not classified elsewhere.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Environmental Compliance Inspectors

Inspect and investigate sources of pollution to protect the public and environment and ensure conformance with Federal, State, and local regulations and ordinances.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers

Monitor and evaluate compliance with equal opportunity laws, guidelines, and policies to ensure that employment practices and contracting arrangements give equal opportunity without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Government Property Inspectors and Investigators

Investigate or inspect government property to ensure compliance with contract agreements and government regulations.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Regulatory Affairs Specialists

Coordinate and document internal regulatory processes, such as internal audits, inspections, license renewals, or registrations. May compile and prepare materials for submission to regulatory agencies.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Customs Brokers

Prepare customs documentation and ensure that shipments meet all applicable laws to facilitate the import and export of goods. Determine and track duties and taxes payable and process payments on behalf of client. Sign documents under a power of attorney. Represent clients in meetings with customs officials and apply for duty refunds and tariff reclassifications. Coordinate transportation and storage of imported goods.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Detectives and Criminal Investigators

Conduct investigations related to suspected violations of federal, state, or local laws to prevent or solve crimes.

$77,270/yrJobs growth:

Police Identification and Records Officers

Collect evidence at crime scene, classify and identify fingerprints, and photograph evidence for use in criminal and civil cases.

$77,270/yrJobs growth:

Intelligence Analysts

Gather, analyze, or evaluate information from a variety of sources, such as law enforcement databases, surveillance, intelligence networks or geographic information systems. Use intelligence data to anticipate and prevent organized crime activities, such as terrorism.

$77,270/yrJobs growth:

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Aurora University, approximately 43% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 98 graduates with reported earnings and 113 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.