Criminology at Hamline University

Hamline's criminology program earns graduates about $41,200 in their first year—solid nationally but lagging behind other Minnesota options. While this beats the national median by roughly $3,700, it sits at just the 40th percentile among the state's five criminology programs. Given Minnesota's strong public university system, that middling position matters: U of M-Duluth grads earn about $1,400 more annually, and both Twin Cities campuses match or exceed Hamline's outcomes.

The $26,500 typical debt load isn't alarming in isolation—it's close to both state and national norms—but combined with first-year earnings, it creates a debt-to-income ratio of 0.64. That's manageable, though not particularly advantageous. For context, criminology graduates often need additional credentials for career advancement in law enforcement or corrections, which could mean deferring income growth while accumulating more education costs.

The real question is whether Hamline's smaller campus environment and private school experience justify paying similar (or potentially higher) tuition than Minnesota's public options for outcomes that trail state leaders. If your student values Hamline's 90% admission rate and smaller class sizes, the program won't saddle them with crushing debt. But if maximizing early earnings matters—and in criminal justice careers, every dollar counts—the state's flagship campuses deliver better returns with comparable or lower debt.