Criminal Justice and Corrections at Minnesota State University Moorhead

Minnesota State Moorhead's criminal justice graduates earn substantially more than the national average—about $6,000 extra in their first year—but fall short of what you'd expect from Minnesota programs. While this school ranks in the 85th percentile nationally, it's only at the 40th percentile among Minnesota schools, where the median program produces starting earnings of $49,000. That $5,000 gap matters when Minnesota has 19 programs to choose from, many at similar public institutions.

The debt picture offers some consolation: at $23,485, graduates here carry about $5,000 less than the typical Minnesota criminal justice graduate, creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.53. Earnings grow modestly to $48,000 by year four—steady but unremarkable improvement. For context, Metropolitan State University, another Minnesota public school, produces starting salaries of $52,000, suggesting location and program design make real differences within the state system.

If your student is already committed to Moorhead for other reasons—perhaps they're local or attracted to the smaller campus—this program won't derail their finances. The combination of below-national debt and above-national earnings creates a workable foundation for a criminal justice career. But if they're comparing Minnesota public universities, they should explore options like Metropolitan State or Bemidji State that deliver stronger earnings outcomes in this field.