Criminal Justice and Corrections at California Baptist University

California Baptist University's criminal justice program demonstrates an unusual trajectory: graduates start below the state median ($35,960 versus $36,092) but experience remarkable 60% earnings growth by year four, reaching $57,399. This makes it a rare fast-riser in a field where salaries typically plateau early. That fourth-year figure surpasses even some of California's top programs and suggests graduates are advancing into supervisory or specialized roles that many peers don't reach.

The debt picture requires attention, however. While the $26,372 borrowed sits near national norms, it's significantly higher than California's $15,000 median for this program. Many in-state criminal justice programs carry substantially less debt while achieving comparable or better starting salaries. That said, the strong earnings growth helps offset this concern—the debt-to-first-year-earnings ratio of 0.73 becomes much more manageable as graduates move into their higher-earning years.

For parents, the key question is patience and career trajectory. If your child plans to enter law enforcement or corrections and commit to advancing through the ranks, this program's growth pattern could justify the higher initial debt burden. But if they're uncertain about staying in the field, lower-debt California options might offer better financial flexibility, even with less dramatic earnings growth.