Criminal Justice and Corrections at Bryant & Stratton College-Albany

At first glance, Bryant & Stratton's numbers look reasonable—graduates carry $22,960 in debt but land jobs earning $32,211 within a year, putting them in the 60th percentile among New York criminal justice programs. The debt burden is actually lower than many comparable programs nationally. But here's what should concern you: four years later, those same graduates are making essentially the same salary ($32,602), suggesting this degree leads to jobs with minimal advancement potential.

The state comparison reveals the real issue. While this program beats New York's median slightly, top community college alternatives in the state deliver significantly better outcomes. SUNY Broome graduates earn $40,721—that's $8,000 more annually for similar training, and those schools typically come with far lower debt loads (the NY median is $11,674 versus Bryant & Stratton's $22,960). Even accounting for Bryant & Stratton serving a largely Pell-eligible student population, that debt premium is hard to justify when community colleges often provide better pathways into the same law enforcement and corrections careers.

If your child is set on this field, explore whether those higher-performing SUNY and community college options are accessible. The earnings trajectory here—flat from year one to year four—suggests you're paying more for a credential that may not open doors to supervisory or specialized positions that drive salary growth in this field.