Criminology at Eastern University

A Bachelor's in Criminology from Eastern University comes with estimated debt of $27,000—matching the Pennsylvania state median—for first-year earnings of $34,876. That puts graduates roughly $3,000 behind their counterparts at other Pennsylvania criminology programs, where the typical first-year salary is $37,737. When the best programs in the state like Saint Joseph's ($43,283) and Drexel ($40,229) show earnings potential nearly 25% higher, the gap becomes harder to ignore.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.77 suggests manageable payments in theory, but context matters. Eastern's criminology graduates earn less than the national median ($37,476) despite debt levels on par with peers. Similar programs across Pennsylvania produce outcomes ranging from $38,000 to $43,000 in first-year earnings, which would make the same debt load considerably easier to manage. The 94% admission rate and 36% Pell share indicate Eastern serves a broad student base, but the outcomes suggest this particular program isn't delivering the competitive advantage students need in Pennsylvania's crowded criminology field.

For parents weighing this investment, the central question is whether Eastern offers something beyond the numbers—specific career connections, internship pipelines, or a particularly strong fit for their child. Without those differentiators, comparable debt for below-average earnings makes this a difficult program to recommend when 19 other Pennsylvania schools offer the same credential, many with demonstrably better outcomes.