Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degree) at Eureka College

Median Earnings (1yr)

$37,886

50th percentile

40th percentile in Illinois

Median Debt

$26,475

1% above national median

Analysis

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.

Where Eureka College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all criminal justice and corrections bachelors's programs nationally

Earnings Distribution

How Eureka College graduates compare to all programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Illinois

Criminal Justice and Corrections bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Illinois (33 total in state)

Scroll to see more →

School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Eureka CollegeEureka	$28,400	$37,886	—	$26,475	0.70
Benedictine UniversityLisle	$34,290	$46,020	—	$25,979	0.56
Aurora UniversityAurora	$28,220	$44,150	$58,259	$23,635	0.54
University of St FrancisJoliet	$37,000	$43,793	$43,109	—	—
North Park UniversityChicago	$35,325	$43,519	$48,806	—	—
DeVry University-IllinoisLisle	$17,488	$43,091	$46,188	$54,985	1.28
National Median	—	$37,856	—	$26,130	0.69

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with criminal justice and corrections graduates

Financial Examiners

Enforce or ensure compliance with laws and regulations governing financial and securities institutions and financial and real estate transactions. May examine, verify, or authenticate records.

$90,400/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Emergency Management Directors

Plan and direct disaster response or crisis management activities, provide disaster preparedness training, and prepare emergency plans and procedures for natural (e.g., hurricanes, floods, earthquakes), wartime, or technological (e.g., nuclear power plant emergencies or hazardous materials spills) disasters or hostage situations.

$86,130/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in criminal justice, corrections, and law enforcement administration. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Compliance Officers

Examine, evaluate, and investigate eligibility for or conformity with laws and regulations governing contract compliance of licenses and permits, and perform other compliance and enforcement inspection and analysis activities not classified elsewhere.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Environmental Compliance Inspectors

Inspect and investigate sources of pollution to protect the public and environment and ensure conformance with Federal, State, and local regulations and ordinances.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers

Monitor and evaluate compliance with equal opportunity laws, guidelines, and policies to ensure that employment practices and contracting arrangements give equal opportunity without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Government Property Inspectors and Investigators

Investigate or inspect government property to ensure compliance with contract agreements and government regulations.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Regulatory Affairs Specialists

Coordinate and document internal regulatory processes, such as internal audits, inspections, license renewals, or registrations. May compile and prepare materials for submission to regulatory agencies.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Customs Brokers

Prepare customs documentation and ensure that shipments meet all applicable laws to facilitate the import and export of goods. Determine and track duties and taxes payable and process payments on behalf of client. Sign documents under a power of attorney. Represent clients in meetings with customs officials and apply for duty refunds and tariff reclassifications. Coordinate transportation and storage of imported goods.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Detectives and Criminal Investigators

Conduct investigations related to suspected violations of federal, state, or local laws to prevent or solve crimes.

$77,270/yrJobs growth:

Police Identification and Records Officers

Collect evidence at crime scene, classify and identify fingerprints, and photograph evidence for use in criminal and civil cases.

$77,270/yrJobs growth:

Intelligence Analysts

Gather, analyze, or evaluate information from a variety of sources, such as law enforcement databases, surveillance, intelligence networks or geographic information systems. Use intelligence data to anticipate and prevent organized crime activities, such as terrorism.

$77,270/yrJobs growth:

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Eureka College, approximately 23% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 21 graduates with reported earnings and 26 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.