Criminology at Benedictine College

Kansas criminology programs typically launch graduates into the low-$40,000s, but this program's estimated first-year earnings of $37,476 fall several thousand dollars short of that state median. Based on comparable bachelor's programs nationally, you're looking at debt around $26,000—manageable on its own, but the gap between what Kansas employers appear willing to pay criminology graduates and what this specific program's peers achieve nationally creates a tighter financial margin than ideal.

The 0.69 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests graduates would dedicate about eight months of pre-tax income to loan repayment, which is workable but leaves little room for error if those estimated earnings don't materialize. The concern isn't catastrophic debt but rather paying a similar price for outcomes that appear to trail other Kansas options. With only one comparable program in the state reporting actual data (University of Saint Mary at $42,633), there's limited visibility into how Benedictine's specific curriculum and regional connections translate to job placement.

For parents considering this investment, the key question is whether Benedictine offers specific advantages—stronger alumni networks in law enforcement, unique internship pipelines, or family considerations around campus culture—that justify potentially lower earnings than peer programs in Kansas. Without those differentiators, you might be paying typical criminology program debt for below-average Kansas outcomes in this field.