Criminology at McPherson College

Based on comparable criminology programs nationwide, graduates here likely face a debt load of around $26,000 to earn roughly $37,500 in their first year—a 0.69 debt-to-earnings ratio that falls within manageable territory. However, the broader Kansas picture suggests this might underperform the state's potential: the University of Saint Mary's criminology graduates, for instance, start at $42,600, over $5,000 more annually. That gap matters when you're managing $26,000 in loans.

The challenge is that criminology as a field doesn't command high starting salaries anywhere. The national median sits at $37,500, meaning even top-performing programs (at the 75th percentile) only reach about $40,500. McPherson's estimates track closely with these national figures, but they trail what appears achievable within Kansas itself. For a field where most entry-level positions in corrections, probation, or law enforcement pay similarly modest wages regardless of where you studied, location and networking during internships often matter more than the specific program.

If your child is committed to criminal justice work, this program's estimated debt burden won't be crippling—the monthly loan payments should consume roughly 10-12% of gross income. But given that other Kansas programs appear to produce better outcomes, it's worth understanding what differentiates McPherson's approach and whether those differences justify potentially lower earnings. The debt itself is reasonable; the question is whether this particular path maximizes their Kansas advantage.