Criminal Justice and Corrections at Herzing University-Brookfield

Herzing-Brookfield's criminal justice graduates start with exceptional earnings of $67,229—beating both the Wisconsin median ($41,527) and the national median ($37,856) by substantial margins. This ranks in the 95th percentile both statewide and nationally, placing it among Wisconsin's top-performing programs alongside Herzing's Madison and Kenosha campuses. With debt of $28,399 (just slightly above state norms) and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42, the initial financial picture looks remarkably strong for what's typically a modest-earning field.

The concern lies in what happens next: earnings drop to $58,875 by year four, a 12% decline that's unusual for any bachelor's program. This pattern suggests graduates may be landing strong initial positions—possibly in specialized roles or with particular agencies—that don't offer the same long-term trajectory. Even with this decline, year-four earnings still exceed typical starting salaries in the field, but it raises questions about career progression and whether those impressive entry-level opportunities translate into sustained advancement.

For families evaluating this program, the math still works better than most criminal justice degrees nationally. Your child would enter the workforce ahead of peers and with manageable debt, even if earnings plateau sooner than expected. The key is understanding that the strong starting point may represent the ceiling rather than the floor.