Criminal Justice and Corrections at Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion

Indiana Wesleyan's Criminal Justice associate's program delivers earnings that beat three-quarters of similar programs nationally, with graduates earning $38,495 in their first year—roughly $5,000 above the national median. Within Indiana, it ranks in the 60th percentile, trailing only Purdue Global among comparable programs. The debt load of $25,537 sits at the 5th percentile nationally for this credential, meaning 95% of similar programs saddle students with more debt. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.66 is manageable, especially for an associate's degree where lower debt typically matters more than maximizing initial salary.

The caveat here is significant: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so individual circumstances heavily influence these numbers. Earnings barely budge from year one to year four ($39,199), which is typical for criminal justice roles where advancement often requires additional credentials or years of service. For families weighing cost against outcome, this program offers above-average earnings with below-average debt—a solid foundation for students planning to enter law enforcement or corrections immediately, though those considering bachelor's degrees later should factor in whether these credits will transfer smoothly.