Criminal Justice and Corrections at Chaminade University of Honolulu

Chaminade's criminal justice program starts graduates at $35,300—below both Hawaii's median ($36,914) and the national average—but demonstrates unusually strong earnings momentum. By year four, graduates reach $47,849, surpassing both state and national benchmarks and approaching the earnings of University of Phoenix-Hawaii grads who typically enter higher-paying law enforcement positions immediately. This 36% growth trajectory suggests graduates may be advancing into supervisory roles or specialized positions within Hawaii's security and corrections sectors, though the modest first-year salary means patience is required.

The debt picture provides some cushion for this slow start: at $23,648, graduates borrow about $3,400 less than Hawaii's median for the program and roughly $2,500 below the national average. This keeps the debt-to-earnings ratio manageable at 0.67, even with the lower starting salary. For families, this translates to more affordable monthly payments during those critical early years when earnings are still building.

The central question is whether your student can weather those first two years earning below-average wages in Hawaii's high cost-of-living environment. If they're living at home or have other support, the program's strong earnings trajectory makes it viable. But families banking on immediate financial independence should look closely at that $35,300 starting point—it's going to be tight in Honolulu.