Criminal Justice and Corrections at Drury University

Drury's criminal justice program starts students at roughly the state median but delivers something unusual: earnings actually drop by 7% between years one and four. While the initial $38,014 seems reasonable—landing at the 60th percentile among Missouri programs—the slide to $35,306 suggests graduates may struggle to advance beyond entry-level positions or face high turnover in their fields.

The $34,000 debt load compounds this concern. That's 31% higher than both the state and national medians for criminal justice programs, placing Drury in the 17th percentile nationally for debt (meaning 83% of programs saddle students with less). When earnings are declining rather than growing, that extra $8,000 in debt becomes harder to justify. Consider that Park University graduates in the same field earn nearly $14,000 more annually by year four—enough to accelerate debt repayment significantly.

For families weighing this investment, the math is straightforward: you're paying above-average debt for below-average career trajectory. If criminal justice is the goal, Missouri offers stronger options at lower cost. Unless Drury provides specific connections or opportunities you can't access elsewhere, the debt burden here looks difficult to rationalize against the earnings reality.