Criminal Justice and Corrections at Eastern Nazarene College

Criminal justice programs in Massachusetts cluster tightly in the low-to-mid $40,000s, and the estimated $42,325 first-year earnings from comparable programs puts this squarely in the state median. That's $4,500 above the national benchmark for criminal justice degrees, which matters when you're entering a field where starting salaries rarely offer much room for error. The estimated $27,000 debt load—derived from peer institutions in Massachusetts—translates to a 0.64 debt-to-earnings ratio, manageable by most standards but leaving little cushion in a profession where advancement often requires years of experience.

What's worth noting: among Massachusetts programs with reported outcomes, Eastern Nazarene's estimated performance sits below schools like Northeastern ($51,363) and Nichols College ($45,774), but roughly matches the state median. Criminal justice careers typically offer stable employment and decent benefits, yet the salary ceiling remains relatively fixed unless you move into specialized roles or federal positions. At this price point, the economics work if your child is committed to law enforcement or corrections, but this isn't a field where early earnings surprise on the upside. The 35% Pell grant population suggests Eastern Nazarene serves students who can't afford missteps on debt.