Criminal Justice and Corrections at Johnson & Wales University-Providence

Johnson & Wales' criminal justice program sits in an unusual position: matching Rhode Island's state median for both earnings and debt, while slightly outperforming the national average. For a program where graduates elsewhere typically earn around $38,000, this $38,871 starting salary isn't exceptional, but the 28% earnings growth to nearly $50,000 by year four suggests graduates find decent career momentum after their initial placements.

The $27,000 debt load creates a manageable situation—just 69% of first-year earnings—though parents should note that Roger Williams graduates earn 17% more ($45,356) right out of the gate. Still, criminal justice isn't a high-earning field anywhere, and this program performs in the 56th percentile nationally, meaning it beats about half of all similar programs across the country. The strong sample size of 100+ graduates makes these figures reliable, not outliers.

For families committed to this career path, Johnson & Wales delivers solid middle-of-the-pack results without overwhelming debt. The real question is whether your child is certain about criminal justice work, since even with healthy earnings growth, they'll still be making less than $50,000 four years in—respectable for public service work, but worth considering against other majors at comparable cost.