Criminal Justice and Corrections at Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion

Indiana Wesleyan's Criminal Justice program charges about $9,000 more in debt than the state median but delivers earnings that land right in the middle of Indiana's criminal justice programs. While graduates start at $43,448—well above the national median—they're still earning less than peers at regional competitors like Vincennes University and Purdue Global, which both achieve similar or better outcomes with significantly lower debt loads.

The 82nd percentile ranking nationally sounds impressive until you zoom into Indiana specifically, where this program sits at just the 60th percentile. That means two out of five Indiana criminal justice programs deliver better earnings, often at community colleges or public universities with lower price tags. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.78 is manageable but not exceptional, particularly given the modest 4% earnings growth over four years—suggesting limited career advancement in those early years after graduation.

For families paying private school tuition, this creates an uncomfortable value question. The program isn't underperforming—graduates earn nearly $6,000 above the national median—but you're paying a premium for outcomes you could achieve more affordably at Indiana's public institutions. Unless there are compelling non-financial reasons to choose Indiana Wesleyan (like campus culture or specific program features), the debt premium is hard to justify when comparable Indiana programs deliver similar or better results for less money.