Location: Oxford, OH•In-State Tuition: $17,809•Out-of-State Tuition: $40,025•Admission Rate: 82%•Avg SAT: 1313
Median Earnings (1yr)
$36,612
41st percentile
60th percentile in Ohio
Median Debt
$23,505
10% below national median
D/E Ratio: 0.64 ManageableSample: 36 graduates

Analysis

Miami University-Oxford's Criminal Justice program lands squarely in the middle of Ohio's options, matching the state median at $36,612 while carrying slightly less debt than typical. That 60th percentile ranking among Ohio programs means you're getting average outcomes—not something to write home about, but not a disaster either. The more concerning picture emerges when you look at where Miami graduates actually land: their earnings trail the national median by about $1,200, despite Miami being a selective institution with solid SAT scores. You'd reasonably expect better results given the school's profile.

The debt load of $23,505 is manageable at 64% of first-year earnings, but here's the reality check: criminal justice careers rarely offer explosive salary growth, and starting at $36,612 means your child will be living frugally in those early years. Compare that to what graduates from programs like Herzing-Akron ($67,229) or even Tiffin ($44,823) are earning, and you see the spread in this field. Those aren't Ivy League schools—they're just producing better-connected or better-prepared graduates for law enforcement and corrections work.

If your child is set on criminal justice at Miami, they should be networking aggressively and pursuing internships that lead directly to specific job placements. The outcomes here suggest the degree alone isn't opening premium doors in this field.

Where Miami University-Oxford Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all criminal justice and corrections bachelors's programs nationally

Miami University-OxfordOther criminal justice and corrections programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How Miami University-Oxford graduates compare to all programs nationally

Miami University-Oxford earns $37k — 41th percentile among criminal justice and corrections bachelors programs.

Compare to Similar Programs in Ohio

Criminal Justice and Corrections bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Ohio (46 total in state)

Scroll to see more →

SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Miami University-OxfordOxford$17,809$36,612—$23,5050.64
Herzing University-AkronAkron$13,420$67,229$58,875$28,3990.42
Tiffin UniversityTiffin$32,400$44,823$52,155$30,7580.69
Baldwin Wallace UniversityBerea$37,938$42,407$49,436$27,0000.64
Ashland UniversityAshland$28,910$42,172$51,448$29,4060.70
Xavier UniversityCincinnati$48,125$41,013$44,168$26,3960.64
National Median—$37,856—$26,1300.69

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with criminal justice and corrections graduates

Financial Examiners

Enforce or ensure compliance with laws and regulations governing financial and securities institutions and financial and real estate transactions. May examine, verify, or authenticate records.

$90,400/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Emergency Management Directors

Plan and direct disaster response or crisis management activities, provide disaster preparedness training, and prepare emergency plans and procedures for natural (e.g., hurricanes, floods, earthquakes), wartime, or technological (e.g., nuclear power plant emergencies or hazardous materials spills) disasters or hostage situations.

$86,130/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in criminal justice, corrections, and law enforcement administration. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Compliance Officers

Examine, evaluate, and investigate eligibility for or conformity with laws and regulations governing contract compliance of licenses and permits, and perform other compliance and enforcement inspection and analysis activities not classified elsewhere.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Environmental Compliance Inspectors

Inspect and investigate sources of pollution to protect the public and environment and ensure conformance with Federal, State, and local regulations and ordinances.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers

Monitor and evaluate compliance with equal opportunity laws, guidelines, and policies to ensure that employment practices and contracting arrangements give equal opportunity without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Government Property Inspectors and Investigators

Investigate or inspect government property to ensure compliance with contract agreements and government regulations.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Regulatory Affairs Specialists

Coordinate and document internal regulatory processes, such as internal audits, inspections, license renewals, or registrations. May compile and prepare materials for submission to regulatory agencies.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Customs Brokers

Prepare customs documentation and ensure that shipments meet all applicable laws to facilitate the import and export of goods. Determine and track duties and taxes payable and process payments on behalf of client. Sign documents under a power of attorney. Represent clients in meetings with customs officials and apply for duty refunds and tariff reclassifications. Coordinate transportation and storage of imported goods.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Detectives and Criminal Investigators

Conduct investigations related to suspected violations of federal, state, or local laws to prevent or solve crimes.

$77,270/yrJobs growth:

Police Identification and Records Officers

Collect evidence at crime scene, classify and identify fingerprints, and photograph evidence for use in criminal and civil cases.

$77,270/yrJobs growth:

Intelligence Analysts

Gather, analyze, or evaluate information from a variety of sources, such as law enforcement databases, surveillance, intelligence networks or geographic information systems. Use intelligence data to anticipate and prevent organized crime activities, such as terrorism.

$77,270/yrJobs growth:
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Miami University-Oxford, approximately 11% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 36 graduates with reported earnings and 34 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.