Criminal Justice and Corrections at Eureka College

Eureka College's criminal justice program lands squarely in the middle nationally, but that's actually below average for Illinois—a state where criminal justice graduates typically earn more than the national median. While earnings of $37,886 match the national benchmark almost exactly, they fall short of Illinois's $39,317 median and trail significantly behind top Illinois programs like Benedictine ($46,020) and Aurora ($44,150). For families paying private school prices at Eureka, that gap matters.

The debt picture is reasonable at $26,475, creating a 0.70 debt-to-earnings ratio that won't overwhelm a starting salary in this field. However, the small sample size—fewer than 30 graduates in the data—makes it difficult to know if these numbers represent a consistent pattern or just a snapshot of a few years. Criminal justice salaries can vary widely based on whether graduates enter corrections, law enforcement, or administrative roles, and with this small cohort, a few career choices can skew the entire picture.

If your child is committed to criminal justice and has strong ties to central Illinois, Eureka might work. But Illinois families should seriously consider the higher-earning programs elsewhere in the state, particularly if those schools offer comparable aid packages. The numbers suggest Eureka's program isn't maximizing earning potential compared to what's available within a few hours' drive.