Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degree) at Capella University

Median Earnings (1yr)

$47,606

95th percentile

40th percentile in Minnesota

Median Debt

$36,500

40% above national median

Analysis

Capella's Criminal Justice program charges premium prices—graduates carry $36,500 in debt, about 30% more than the state median—while delivering decidedly middle-of-the-pack results for Minnesota. Though earnings of $47,606 rank in the 95th percentile nationally, that's misleading: Minnesota's criminal justice programs generally outperform the national average, and this program sits squarely in the middle of the state's options at the 40th percentile. Five other Minnesota schools deliver higher earnings, with some exceeding $50,000 annually.

The debt burden is where this becomes problematic. At 77% of first-year earnings, the debt-to-income ratio is manageable but hardly impressive given the cost premium. Minimal earnings growth—just 2% over four years—suggests graduates quickly hit their ceiling in this field. For an online program that should theoretically offer cost advantages, the $36,500 debt load raises questions about value, especially when Metropolitan State delivers similar outcomes at presumably lower in-state tuition.

If your child is considering criminal justice in Minnesota, look closely at the public universities first. Capella's online flexibility may justify its premium for working adults balancing careers and education, but traditional students would likely find better value elsewhere. The debt burden here isn't crushing, but it's higher than necessary for the career outcomes you're buying.

Where Capella University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all criminal justice and corrections bachelors's programs nationally

Earnings Distribution

How Capella University graduates compare to all programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School	1 Year	4 Years	Growth
Capella University	$47,606	$48,665	+2%
Concordia University-Saint Paul	$42,607	$64,015	+50%
Herzing University-Minneapolis	$67,229	$58,875	-12%
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota	$64,894	$58,646	-10%
Winona State University	$48,861	$57,296	+17%

Compare to Similar Programs in Minnesota

Criminal Justice and Corrections bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Minnesota (19 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Capella UniversityMinneapolis	$14,436	$47,606	$48,665	$36,500	0.77
Herzing University-MinneapolisSt. Louis Park	$13,420	$67,229	$58,875	$28,399	0.42
Saint Mary's University of MinnesotaWinona	$43,160	$64,894	$58,646	$28,708	0.44
Metropolitan State UniversitySaint Paul	$9,780	$52,125	$52,541	$29,426	0.56
Walden UniversityMinneapolis	$12,498	$50,634	$48,565	$48,133	0.95
Bemidji State UniversityBemidji	$10,164	$49,617	$52,130	$23,181	0.47
National Median	—	$37,856	—	$26,130	0.69

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with criminal justice and corrections graduates

Financial Examiners

Enforce or ensure compliance with laws and regulations governing financial and securities institutions and financial and real estate transactions. May examine, verify, or authenticate records.

$90,400/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Emergency Management Directors

Plan and direct disaster response or crisis management activities, provide disaster preparedness training, and prepare emergency plans and procedures for natural (e.g., hurricanes, floods, earthquakes), wartime, or technological (e.g., nuclear power plant emergencies or hazardous materials spills) disasters or hostage situations.

$86,130/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in criminal justice, corrections, and law enforcement administration. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Compliance Officers

Examine, evaluate, and investigate eligibility for or conformity with laws and regulations governing contract compliance of licenses and permits, and perform other compliance and enforcement inspection and analysis activities not classified elsewhere.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Environmental Compliance Inspectors

Inspect and investigate sources of pollution to protect the public and environment and ensure conformance with Federal, State, and local regulations and ordinances.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers

Monitor and evaluate compliance with equal opportunity laws, guidelines, and policies to ensure that employment practices and contracting arrangements give equal opportunity without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Government Property Inspectors and Investigators

Investigate or inspect government property to ensure compliance with contract agreements and government regulations.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Regulatory Affairs Specialists

Coordinate and document internal regulatory processes, such as internal audits, inspections, license renewals, or registrations. May compile and prepare materials for submission to regulatory agencies.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Customs Brokers

Prepare customs documentation and ensure that shipments meet all applicable laws to facilitate the import and export of goods. Determine and track duties and taxes payable and process payments on behalf of client. Sign documents under a power of attorney. Represent clients in meetings with customs officials and apply for duty refunds and tariff reclassifications. Coordinate transportation and storage of imported goods.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Detectives and Criminal Investigators

Conduct investigations related to suspected violations of federal, state, or local laws to prevent or solve crimes.

$77,270/yrJobs growth:

Police Identification and Records Officers

Collect evidence at crime scene, classify and identify fingerprints, and photograph evidence for use in criminal and civil cases.

$77,270/yrJobs growth:

Intelligence Analysts

Gather, analyze, or evaluate information from a variety of sources, such as law enforcement databases, surveillance, intelligence networks or geographic information systems. Use intelligence data to anticipate and prevent organized crime activities, such as terrorism.

$77,270/yrJobs growth:

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Capella University, approximately 37% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 49 graduates with reported earnings and 71 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.