Criminal Justice and Corrections at Eagle Gate College-Murray

This program carries an estimated debt load of over $51,000—nearly triple what criminal justice graduates typically face at other Utah schools, where the median is around $18,000. Even if Eagle Gate's graduates earn near the state average of $41,500 initially, that debt burden translates to a 1.24 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning you'd owe more than a full year's salary. The four-year earnings figure of $36,500 compounds the concern, suggesting income may actually decline after the first year rather than grow.

The comparison to Utah's public universities is stark. Weber State and Utah Valley graduates report similar or higher earnings in this field, but with dramatically lower debt. When nearly half of Eagle Gate's students receive Pell grants, that $51,000 price tag represents a substantial financial burden for families who can least afford it. Criminal justice careers often lead to public sector work with predictable but modest salary progression, making heavy debt particularly difficult to manage.

If your child is set on this field, the numbers suggest looking hard at Utah's public options first. The estimated figures here may not reflect Eagle Gate's actual outcomes, but the debt projection alone—based on similar private schools nationwide—should prompt careful questions about whether this program's cost delivers commensurate value over less expensive alternatives that produce comparable earnings.