Criminal Justice and Corrections at Caribbean University-Carolina

The small sample size here makes definitive judgments difficult, but the available data reveals two competing narratives. While Caribbean University-Carolina's graduates start at just $15,127—landing in the 5th percentile nationally—they're earning close to Puerto Rico's median for criminal justice programs and carry substantially less debt than the national average. That 70% earnings jump to $25,723 by year four is notable, though graduates still trail the top PR programs by $3,000-7,000 annually.

The debt picture offers some relief: at $13,500, it's roughly half the national median and slightly below Puerto Rico's average. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.89, graduates face less than one year's salary in debt—manageable in absolute terms, though starting at $15,127 means those first few years will be tight financially. For context, 72% of students here receive Pell grants, suggesting this serves primarily lower-income families who may have limited alternatives.

For parents, this boils down to realistic expectations. Your child won't command the $22,000+ starting salaries seen at NUC or the Inter American campuses, but they'll graduate with minimal debt and see meaningful earnings growth. If staying local in Carolina matters and cost is a primary concern, this works. If maximizing earning potential is the priority, the top-tier PR programs show what's possible within the commonwealth—and the national data suggests mainland opportunities could more than double these outcomes, assuming your child is willing to relocate.