Criminology at Concordia University-Chicago

First-year earnings of $41,724 place this program well above most criminology degrees nationally, hitting the 84th percentile—a meaningful edge for a field where many graduates struggle to break $35,000 initially. Within Illinois, where the typical criminology graduate earns about $35,000, Concordia's outcomes look competitive, though the 60th percentile ranking suggests half the state's programs do even better. Still, this substantially outperforms Dominican and National Louis, two direct competitors in the Chicago area.

The estimated debt figure of $26,027—derived from national patterns at similar private institutions—presents a manageable burden at this earnings level. With a debt-to-earnings ratio around 0.62, graduates should be able to handle monthly payments without severe financial strain, assuming steady employment in the field. That said, criminology careers often start in lower-paying government or nonprofit roles before advancing, so the strong first-year number matters more if it's sustainable.

For families weighing Concordia against state schools like Southern Illinois, which produces similar earnings at likely lower cost, the calculation depends on factors beyond this data—campus fit, commuting distance, support services. The earnings edge here is real but modest, and the estimated debt assumes typical borrowing patterns that may not match your child's specific financial aid package. Request actual debt figures for recent graduates before committing, as individual outcomes can vary significantly from institutional averages.