Criminology at Marquette University

Marquette's criminology program ranks in the bottom quartile among Wisconsin programs, with first-year earnings of $35,650 falling more than $9,000 below the state median. That's a significant gap in a state with just five programs—graduates here earn less than their peers at UW-Stout, Lakeland, and even River Falls. The silver lining? Earnings jump 36% by year four, reaching $48,522, which suggests graduates eventually find their footing in careers that value experience over entry-level credentials.

The $25,000 debt burden is manageable and matches the national median, giving this program a 0.70 debt-to-earnings ratio. That's workable, though the weak starting salary means the first few years will feel tighter financially than at competing programs. Wisconsin families should recognize they're paying Marquette's private school premium (despite the 87% admission rate) for earnings outcomes that trail the state's public universities by a wide margin.

If your child is set on Marquette for campus culture or other reasons, this program won't bury them in debt. But purely as an investment, Wisconsin's public options deliver stronger immediate returns in criminology. The growth trajectory helps, but starting $9,000 behind means playing catch-up for years.