Criminal Justice and Corrections at Holy Family University

The small sample size here demands caution, but the trajectory is striking: graduates start at $33,500—below both national and Pennsylvania medians—then surge 55% to nearly $52,000 by year four. This earnings growth pattern is unusually strong for criminal justice programs, which typically see more modest gains. Among Pennsylvania's 52 criminal justice programs, this lands at the 40th percentile, meaning it's middle-of-the-pack statewide but lags the national field significantly. The $27,000 debt load matches Pennsylvania's median exactly and sits close to national norms, creating a reasonable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.81 that improves substantially as careers progress.

The gap between Holy Family's outcomes and Pennsylvania's top performers is considerable—Peirce College graduates earn $48,700 right out of the gate, nearly $15,000 more than Holy Family's first-year figure. However, the four-year earnings essentially close that gap, suggesting Holy Family graduates may be entering lower-paying entry positions but advancing quickly. For families, this means patience: the first year or two will likely involve modest paychecks while building experience in law enforcement, corrections, or related fields where salary progression matters more than starting position.

Given the small cohort measured here, these numbers could shift dramatically year to year. If your child is committed to criminal justice work and needs an accessible entry point (74% admission rate, 40% Pell-eligible students), the debt is manageable and the growth is promising—just understand the lean early years.