Criminal Justice and Corrections at Chestnut Hill College

Chestnut Hill graduates consistently out-earn typical criminal justice majors by nearly $9,000 annually—placing them in the 95th percentile nationally—but they're paying a premium to get there. At $37,125 in median debt (versus $26,130 nationally), students are borrowing roughly 40% more than their peers elsewhere. While the school's outcomes rank among Pennsylvania's strongest for this field, the debt load is steep enough that graduates are spending about 80% of their first year's salary to finance the degree.

The good news? Earnings here start strong and stay that way, growing to nearly $50,000 by year four. That's solidly above both Pennsylvania's median ($37,311) and competitive with private institutions like DeSales University. For context, Pennsylvania has 52 schools offering this program, and Chestnut Hill lands squarely in the middle tier for earnings—respectable but not elite—while carrying notably higher debt than most state alternatives.

For families considering this program, the calculation comes down to whether the $9,000-per-year earnings advantage justifies the extra borrowing. With nearly half the student body receiving Pell grants, many families here are stretching financially. The debt is manageable given the strong starting salary, but students who need to minimize borrowing should compare offers carefully against Pennsylvania's other solid performers in this field.