Location: Decatur, IL•In-State Tuition: $26,892•Out-of-State Tuition: $43,670•Admission Rate: 54%•Avg SAT: 1050
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$39,317
Est. from IL median (23 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$25,979
Est. from IL median (11 programs)

Analysis

Millikin's criminal justice program sits at the Illinois median for both earnings and debt—around $39,300 in first-year income against roughly $26,000 borrowed. That 0.66 debt-to-earnings ratio falls within manageable territory, though it's worth noting these figures come from similar programs across Illinois rather than tracked outcomes from Millikin graduates specifically. The estimated earnings align closely with the national median of $37,856, suggesting typical entry-level pay for this field rather than any particular advantage or disadvantage.

The challenge shows up when comparing to other Illinois private schools with reported data. Benedictine and Aurora graduates earn $44,000 to $46,000 in their first year—17% more than what comparable programs suggest for Millikin. That gap matters in a field where even strong performers rarely break $50,000 early in their careers. Criminal justice tends to reward experience and advancement over time, but starting several thousand dollars behind peers means playing catch-up.

For parents weighing this investment, the question is whether Millikin's smaller environment justifies paying private school tuition for outcomes that mirror the state average. The debt load isn't alarming, but without program-specific data showing how Millikin grads actually fare in placement or salary negotiations, you're essentially betting on the broader Illinois market for criminal justice degrees.

Where Millikin University Stands

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

Millikin University (estimated ±10%)Other criminal justice and corrections programs

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Illinois

Criminal Justice and Corrections bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Illinois (33 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Millikin UniversityDecatur$26,892$39,317*—$25,979*—
Benedictine UniversityLisle$34,290$46,020*—$25,979*0.56
Aurora UniversityAurora$28,220$44,150*$58,259$23,635*0.54
University of St FrancisJoliet$37,000$43,793*$43,109—*—
North Park UniversityChicago$35,325$43,519*$48,806—*—
DeVry University-IllinoisLisle$17,488$43,091*$46,188$54,985*1.28
National Median—$37,856*—$26,130*0.69
* Estimated from similar programs

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 Millikin University, approximately 35% 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.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 23 similar programs in IL. Actual outcomes may vary.