Location: Mequon, WI•In-State Tuition: $34,250•Admission Rate: 68%•Avg SAT: 1250
Median Earnings (1yr)
$41,527
71st percentile
60th percentile in Wisconsin
Median Debt
$27,000
3% above national median
D/E Ratio: 0.65 ManageableSample: 49 graduates

Analysis

Concordia's criminal justice program places graduates in the middle of Wisconsin's pack—right at the state median for earnings—but shows notably stronger earning potential than most programs nationally. First-year graduates earn $41,527, outpacing the national median by nearly $4,000 and landing in the 71st percentile nationwide. The $27,000 median debt sits close to both state and national averages, creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65 that allows graduates to service loans without financial strain.

The 24% earnings growth by year four demonstrates solid career progression, with salaries climbing to $51,635. This trajectory suggests graduates are advancing beyond entry-level positions, though the program can't match the specialized outcomes at Herzing campuses, where criminal justice graduates earn significantly more (likely in specialized law enforcement or corrections roles). Still, Concordia delivers considerably better results than many Wisconsin alternatives while maintaining similar debt levels.

For parents evaluating the investment, this program offers reasonable value: your child will likely earn more than most criminal justice graduates nationally while taking on typical debt. The earnings won't be spectacular, but they're reliable and grow steadily. If your student is committed to criminal justice rather than exploring law enforcement specifically, Concordia provides a solid middle-ground option in Wisconsin's landscape.

Where Concordia University-Wisconsin Stands

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

Concordia University-WisconsinOther criminal justice and corrections programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How Concordia University-Wisconsin graduates compare to all programs nationally

Concordia University-Wisconsin earns $42k — 71th percentile among criminal justice and corrections bachelors programs.

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
Concordia University-Wisconsin$41,527$51,635+24%
Herzing University-Brookfield$67,229$58,875-12%
Herzing University-Madison$67,229$58,875-12%
Herzing University-Kenosha$67,229$58,875-12%
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh$39,394$58,148+48%

Compare to Similar Programs in Wisconsin

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

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Concordia University-WisconsinMequon$34,250$41,527$51,635$27,0000.65
Herzing University-BrookfieldBrookfield$13,420$67,229$58,875$28,3990.42
Herzing University-KenoshaKenosha$13,420$67,229$58,875$28,3990.42
Herzing University-MadisonMadison$13,420$67,229$58,875$28,3990.42
University of Wisconsin-ParksideKenosha$7,855$42,342$46,689$20,7450.49
University of Wisconsin-SuperiorSuperior$8,487$42,295—$26,1750.62
National Median—$37,856—$26,1300.69

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 Concordia University-Wisconsin, approximately 22% 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 69 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.