Criminal Justice and Corrections at Florida National University-Main Campus

The estimated $55,652 debt load here is more than double what criminal justice graduates at comparable Florida programs typically carry—$25,500 statewide and $26,130 nationally. For a field where peer programs across Florida suggest first-year earnings around $39,400, borrowing that much creates immediate financial pressure. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.41 means graduates would owe roughly 17 months of gross income, and with earnings barely moving between years one and four (from $39,407 to $38,832), there's little income growth trajectory to ease that burden.

What makes this particularly challenging is how Florida National's cost structure compares to alternatives. Several Florida schools—Saint Leo, Indian River State College, even online-focused programs like Strayer—place their criminal justice graduates in the low-to-mid $40,000s with significantly less debt. The 84% Pell grant rate at Florida National suggests most students here have limited financial cushion to absorb heavy loan payments that could easily run $600+ monthly on standard repayment plans.

If your child is set on criminal justice, the numbers suggest exploring Florida programs with actual reported outcomes showing both higher earnings and lower debt. The combination of estimated above-average borrowing and field-typical earnings creates a financial equation that could constrain post-graduation choices for years.