Criminal Justice and Corrections at Bryant & Stratton College-Syracuse North

The debt load here tells a more concerning story than the earnings. While graduates earn slightly above the New York state median for this program (60th percentile), they're taking on nearly double the typical debt—$22,960 versus the state median of $11,674. That creates a tighter financial picture than you'll find at comparable programs, especially when earnings plateau almost immediately after graduation.

For context, several SUNY community colleges produce graduates earning $36,000-$40,000 with significantly less debt. SUNY Broome tops the state list at $40,721—that's $8,000 more annually than Bryant & Stratton graduates earn. The 1% earnings growth over four years suggests limited advancement potential, which makes that higher debt burden harder to justify. With 65% of students receiving Pell grants, this is serving a financially vulnerable population that might benefit from exploring lower-cost alternatives.

The program does have one advantage: its low debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.71 means the debt is still manageable relative to income. But when nearby public colleges offer similar career preparation with half the debt and better earnings potential, families should carefully weigh whether the premium here is worth paying. If your child is considering this path, compare total costs against local community colleges—the difference in both debt and earning potential could exceed $50,000 over the first decade after graduation.