Criminology at Lebanon Valley College

Is it worth borrowing $27,000—a figure estimated from similar Pennsylvania programs—for a criminology degree that starts at $38,828? The immediate debt picture looks manageable with a ratio below 0.7, but what matters more here is where graduates land after a few years in the field. Lebanon Valley's criminology program produces first-year earnings that beat both state and national benchmarks by a modest margin, placing in the 60th percentile. More impressive is the trajectory: by year four, median earnings jump to $63,773, representing 64% growth that suggests graduates are moving into more specialized or supervisory roles.

Since the debt estimate comes from peer institutions across Pennsylvania rather than Lebanon Valley's actual outcomes, there's inherent uncertainty about what borrowing looks like for this specific program. However, the earnings figures—which are reported for this program—tell a clearer story. Starting salary roughly matches what Saint Vincent and Indiana University of Pennsylvania graduates earn, while remaining about $5,000 below top performers like Saint Joseph's. The four-year earnings growth compensates for a modest start, potentially reflecting the career progression available in criminal justice and related fields.

The core question is whether your student values this particular campus and program enough to accept the uncertainty around actual borrowing costs. The earnings outcomes are solid and verifiable; the debt is a reasonable estimate but not guaranteed for individual students.