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

Median Earnings (1yr)

$36,839

43rd percentile

40th percentile in Florida

Median Debt

$18,623

29% below national median

Analysis

FIU's criminal justice program stands out for one key reason: remarkably low debt combined with solid earnings growth. With median debt of just $18,623—far below both the national average ($26,130) and Florida average ($25,500)—students graduate with manageable financial burdens that allow the decent starting salary of $36,839 to work in their favor.

While initial earnings lag slightly behind state and national medians, the program shows impressive momentum with 30% earnings growth by year four, reaching $48,001. Among Florida's 36 criminal justice programs, this ranks in the 40th percentile—middle of the pack but competitive given the cost advantage. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.51 is excellent, meaning students can realistically pay off their loans without financial stress.

The caveat is that top-performing programs in Florida do significantly better—some nearly doubling FIU's starting salaries. However, those programs likely come with substantially higher debt loads. For families prioritizing affordability while still accessing a respected state university education, FIU's criminal justice program offers a smart balance: you'll graduate with minimal debt and earnings that grow meaningfully over time, even if you won't immediately match the highest earners in the field.

Where Florida International University Stands

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

Earnings Distribution

How Florida International 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 International University	$36,839	$48,001	+30%
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)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Florida International UniversityMiami	$6,565	$36,839	$48,001	$18,623	0.51
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 International University, approximately 40% 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 598 graduates with reported earnings and 514 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.