Criminal Justice and Corrections at Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global

Indiana Wesleyan's associate degree in criminal justice produces graduates earning above both national and state medians—ranking in the 75th percentile nationally and 60th in Indiana. First-year earnings of $38,495 exceed the national median by over $5,000, putting graduates on competitive footing despite holding a two-year degree. Among Indiana programs, only Purdue Global consistently outperforms this one.

The debt load tells a more complex story. At $25,537, it matches Indiana's median but sits nearly double the national benchmark for this program. However, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.66 remains manageable—graduates earn roughly 1.5 times their debt in their first year. Minimal earnings growth from year one to year four (just 2%) suggests this field doesn't reward experience heavily, which means starting strong matters more than usual.

The critical caveat: fewer than 30 graduates reported data, making these figures less reliable than larger programs. For parents of students committed to criminal justice careers in Indiana, this program appears to deliver solid starting salaries that justify the debt. But if your student is uncertain about the field or considering staying in-state purely for cost reasons, understand that several Indiana schools produce similar outcomes—and the modest earnings trajectory means switching careers later could make that debt harder to manage.