Criminal Justice and Corrections at George Washington University

George Washington University's Criminal Justice program sits in an unusual position: exceptional by national standards but less impressive locally. Graduates earn $51,256 in their first year—35% above the national median for this field and notably better than programs at American University or Howard. However, within DC's small but competitive criminal justice market, this ranks only at the 60th percentile, trailing Trinity Washington's program by nearly $4,000. The 30% earnings growth to $66,524 by year four is solid, suggesting graduates build valuable career momentum in DC's government and policy sectors.

The $20,500 median debt tells an important story about GW's financial aid for this particular program. While the university's overall reputation includes steep costs, criminal justice majors here graduate with substantially less debt than both the national median ($26,130) and the DC average ($29,782). The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.40 means most graduates can manage repayment on a single year's salary—far better than many alternatives.

For families weighing DC options, this program offers something Trinity Washington can't match: GW's broader institutional resources and network, with only slightly lower first-year earnings. If your student is committed to criminal justice work in the capital region, this program delivers strong earnings potential without the debt trap that often accompanies private universities. Just recognize they're paying partly for the GW name, not purely for superior criminal justice outcomes.