Criminal Justice and Corrections at Marywood University

Pennsylvania's criminal justice programs typically start graduates around $37,000, and Marywood appears to track right with that state median. The estimated $27,000 in debt—about three-quarters of that first-year salary—sits in a manageable range for the field, though the four-year earnings jump to $49,000 suggests the real payoff comes with experience rather than immediately after graduation.

The challenge here is timing. Criminal justice careers often require working your way up through entry-level positions, and that initial $37,000 salary won't feel generous while making loan payments. Several Pennsylvania programs—Peirce College at nearly $49,000, Chestnut Hill at $46,000—show considerably stronger first-year outcomes, suggesting that school choice matters significantly in this field. The gap between Marywood's estimated starting point and these higher performers is substantial enough to affect your child's financial runway in those critical early career years.

Given that both earnings and debt figures here are estimates based on similar Pennsylvania programs rather than Marywood-specific outcomes, you're making a decision with limited visibility into this particular program's track record. If your child is committed to criminal justice, it's worth comparing actual aid packages and exploring whether those stronger-performing Pennsylvania programs are accessible alternatives.