Criminal Justice and Corrections at DeVry University-Georgia

DeVry's Criminal Justice program carries twice the debt load of typical Georgia programs in this field—$54,985 versus a state median of $30,658—yet delivers mid-pack earnings. While graduates earn $43,091 initially, placing them above both national and state medians, that same salary could be achieved at University of North Georgia or Strayer for roughly half the debt. The real concern isn't the starting salary; it's that you're paying premium prices (this program ranks in just the 5th percentile nationally for debt burden) without getting premium outcomes.

The earnings trajectory offers modest encouragement, with income growing to $46,188 by year four—a 7% increase that outpaces many criminal justice programs where salaries often plateau early. But that growth doesn't fundamentally change the math: graduates are carrying debt equivalent to 1.28 times their first-year salary in a field where advancement typically requires years of public service or additional credentials. With 61% of DeVry-Georgia students receiving Pell grants, many graduates here are taking on this debt burden without family financial cushions.

For families comparing options, this comes down to access versus value. If DeVry's scheduling flexibility or online options make degree completion feasible where traditional programs wouldn't, that's worth considering. But if your child can attend one of Georgia's public universities offering this program, the debt differential is too significant to ignore for outcomes that are merely average.