Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degree) at Dakota Wesleyan University

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$40,402

Est. from SD median (3 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$27,000

Est. from national median (261 programs)

Analysis

Similar criminal justice programs in South Dakota suggest first-year earnings around $40,400, which would leave graduates with roughly two-thirds of their annual salary in debt—a manageable ratio if the trajectory holds. What's encouraging here is the four-year earnings figure of $45,334, indicating decent upward movement early in graduates' careers. That's notably above the national median for this field and competitive with South Dakota's top program outcomes.

The estimated $27,000 debt load aligns closely with both state and national benchmarks for criminal justice degrees, suggesting Dakota Wesleyan isn't leaving students significantly more burdened than peer institutions. When you compare these projections to reported outcomes from other South Dakota programs—where first-year earnings range from roughly $38,800 to $45,700—this program appears positioned in the middle to upper portion of the state's offerings.

The practical concern is that these figures are estimates based on comparable programs, not tracked outcomes for Dakota Wesleyan's specific graduates. Before committing, ask the school directly about graduate placement rates and typical employer pathways. For a field like criminal justice where local connections and internship opportunities significantly impact job prospects, understanding Dakota Wesleyan's specific network in South Dakota's law enforcement and corrections sectors matters more than the estimated numbers alone.

Where Dakota Wesleyan University Stands

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

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School	1 Year	4 Years	Growth
Dakota Wesleyan University	—	$45,334	—
George Washington University	$51,256	$66,524	+30%
Elmhurst University	$38,352	$66,495	+73%
University of South Dakota	$40,402	$47,981	+19%
National American University-Rapid City	$45,720	$45,613	-0%

Compare to Similar Programs in South Dakota

Criminal Justice and Corrections bachelors's programs at peer institutions in South Dakota (7 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Dakota Wesleyan UniversityMitchell	$32,890	$40,402*	$45,334	$27,000*	—
National American University-Rapid CityRapid City	$16,065	$45,720*	$45,613	$51,547*	1.13
University of South DakotaVermillion	$9,432	$40,402*	$47,981	$25,000*	0.62
University of Sioux FallsSioux Falls	$20,740	$38,858*	—	$26,950*	0.69
National Median	—	$37,856*	—	$26,130*	0.69

* Estimated from similar programs

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 Dakota Wesleyan University, approximately 26% 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.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 3 similar programs in SD. Actual outcomes may vary.