Criminal Justice and Corrections at Brookline College-Tempe

Graduating with $38,878 in debt to earn $33,962 presents a challenging math problem: you're starting with more debt than annual income. While earnings do climb to $36,180 by year four, that's still $5,000 below what the typical Arizona criminal justice graduate earns right out of the gate. This program ranks in just the 25th percentile among Arizona schools—meaning three-quarters of comparable in-state programs produce better-earning graduates. For context, Arizona State's criminal justice grads earn $42,187, while University of Phoenix grads hit nearly $48,000.

The small sample size here (fewer than 30 graduates tracked) means these numbers could shift with more data, but the pattern is concerning enough to warrant attention. With 58% of students receiving Pell grants, many families here are counting on these degrees to deliver economic mobility. A debt load that exceeds your first-year salary makes that climb steeper than it needs to be, especially when Arizona State—the state's flagship public university—offers stronger outcomes at likely lower in-state tuition.

If your child is set on criminal justice in Arizona, compare total costs carefully. The earnings gap between this program and Arizona's stronger options isn't small—it's $6,000 to $14,000 annually. That difference compounds over a career and makes debt repayment considerably easier.