Criminal Justice and Corrections at DeVry University-Florida

DeVry University-Florida's criminal justice graduates earn notably more than their peers—landing in the 80th percentile nationally and 60th percentile among Florida programs—but they're paying double the typical debt load to get there. With $54,985 in median debt versus a state median of $25,500, these students are borrowing roughly the same amount to become corrections officers or probation workers as many students borrow to become nurses or engineers. That 1.28 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe more than their first year's salary, a position that can take years to overcome even with steady career growth.

The earnings trajectory provides some reassurance—graduates see steady wage progression from $43,091 to $46,188 over four years, outpacing many criminal justice programs. However, this still falls short of what nearby competitors deliver: Herzing University-Orlando graduates in this field earn $67,229, and several other Florida schools achieve similar outcomes with half the debt burden. For a 100% open-admission institution where half the students receive Pell grants, the high debt levels are particularly concerning.

Unless DeVry offers your student substantial scholarships or aid that dramatically reduces borrowing, Florida has multiple pathways into criminal justice careers that deliver comparable or better earnings without this level of debt. Saint Leo, Strayer, and Indian River State College all place graduates in the $41,000-$48,000 range while keeping debt closer to state norms.