Criminal Justice and Corrections at DeVry University-California

DeVry's Criminal Justice program earns significantly more than most California alternatives—$46,188 four years out places it well above the state median of $36,092—but that advantage comes at a steep price. The $54,985 in typical debt is more than triple what graduates of other California criminal justice programs carry, and roughly double the national median. While half of students qualify for Pell grants, the debt burden suggests limited aid beyond federal loans.

The earnings trajectory offers some reassurance: graduates outperform 80% of criminal justice programs nationally and show steady 7% growth through year four. At $46,188, these earnings beat both the California and national medians by comfortable margins. However, when you're starting $55,000 in debt for a $43,000 first-year salary, you're facing a significantly longer payback period than graduates from less expensive California options like Cal State East Bay, where students carry around $15,000 in debt for similar outcomes.

For families considering this program, the math is straightforward but challenging: you'll likely earn more than most criminal justice graduates in California, but you'll be paying off debt for considerably longer. Unless DeVry offers substantial institutional aid to bring that debt figure down, the state's public universities deliver comparable or better earnings with far less financial risk.