Criminal Justice and Corrections at Indiana University-Bloomington

Indiana University-Bloomington's Criminal Justice program graduates start behind most Indiana schools in this field—earning $35,572 in their first year compared to the state median of nearly $40,000. At 40th percentile statewide, this trails regional competitors like Vincennes University ($46,644) and even some less-selective Indiana campuses by more than $10,000 annually. The positive story is strong earnings growth: graduates see a 46% increase to $51,792 by year four, eventually surpassing the state median. But that first-year gap matters for loan payments and early career momentum.

The debt picture offers some relief. At $19,464, graduates carry about $5,000 less than the Indiana median for this program, making the debt-to-earnings ratio manageable at 0.55. However, this advantage primarily reflects IU-Bloomington being a flagship state school with relatively reasonable in-state tuition, not exceptional career outcomes for the program itself.

For a flagship university with strong name recognition and an 1308 average SAT, these outcomes are underwhelming. Your child would likely find better immediate career prospects in this field at less-prestigious Indiana schools. If they're set on criminal justice and staying in-state, consider the schools outperforming IU-Bloomington by $10,000+ in first-year earnings—those gains compound over a career far more than any prestige premium from the Bloomington campus.