Criminal Justice and Corrections at Azusa Pacific University

Azusa Pacific's Criminal Justice program puts graduates ahead of typical outcomes for this field, with first-year earnings of $40,091—beating both the national median ($37,856) and California's median ($36,092). However, a significant debt concern emerges: at $21,750, graduates carry substantially more than the California median of $15,000, placing this program in the 81st percentile nationally for debt burden. That 0.54 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates start with debt equal to about half their first-year salary, which is manageable but not ideal for a field where salaries typically remain modest.

The earnings gap between APU and the state's top programs is substantial—National University graduates earn 60% more at $64,143. Still, APU performs solidly in the middle tier, ranking at the 60th percentile among California's 41 criminal justice programs. For a private Christian university with a 79% admission rate, these outcomes suggest decent career placement, though families should weigh whether the extra $6,750 in debt over the state median justifies the specific value APU offers beyond academics.

One important caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so individual circumstances could vary significantly. If your child is drawn to APU's faith-based mission and campus environment, the financial picture isn't prohibitive—but compare carefully against nearby CSU options that might deliver similar earnings with less debt.