Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degree) at Florida Atlantic University

Median Earnings (1yr)

$35,647

35th percentile

40th percentile in Florida

Median Debt

$18,750

28% below national median

Analysis

FAU's Criminal Justice program stands out for one key reason: remarkably low debt. At $18,750 in median student debt, graduates owe roughly $7,000 less than the Florida median and nearly $8,000 below the national average. This places it in the 95th percentile nationally for low debt—an impressive feat that significantly improves the program's overall value despite modest starting salaries.

The earnings picture shows both challenges and promise. First-year graduates earn $35,647, which falls below both state ($39,406) and national ($37,856) medians for criminal justice programs. However, strong 35% earnings growth pushes four-year earnings to $48,229, bringing graduates much closer to competitive salary ranges. Among Florida's 36 criminal justice programs, FAU ranks in the 40th percentile—middle of the pack but reasonable given the debt advantage.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.53 is quite manageable, meaning graduates can realistically handle their loan payments on entry-level salaries. While FAU won't match top-performing programs like Herzing Orlando ($67,229), it offers a solid path into criminal justice careers without the financial burden that often accompanies this field. For families prioritizing affordability while maintaining reasonable earning potential, FAU's combination of low debt and steady career growth makes it a practical choice.

Where Florida Atlantic University Stands

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

Earnings Distribution

How Florida Atlantic University graduates compare to all programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School	1 Year	4 Years	Growth
Florida Atlantic University	$35,647	$48,229	+35%
Herzing University-Orlando	$67,229	$58,875	-12%
Lynn University	$39,496	$58,830	+49%
Strayer University-Florida	$43,405	$50,636	+17%
Saint Leo University	$47,853	$49,948	+4%

Compare to Similar Programs in Florida

Criminal Justice and Corrections bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Florida (36 total in state)

Scroll to see more →

School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Florida Atlantic UniversityBoca Raton	$4,879	$35,647	$48,229	$18,750	0.53
Herzing University-OrlandoWinter Park	$13,420	$67,229	$58,875	$28,399	0.42
Saint Leo UniversitySaint Leo	$28,360	$47,853	$49,948	$30,500	0.64
Strayer University-FloridaTampa	$13,920	$43,405	$50,636	$56,937	1.31
Indian River State CollegeFort Pierce	$2,764	$43,351	$39,116	$12,000	0.28
DeVry University-FloridaOrlando	$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 Florida Atlantic University, approximately 35% 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 369 graduates with reported earnings and 354 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.