Criminal Justice and Corrections at Mount Marty University

The debt load here demands attention—$22,000 for an associate's degree in criminal justice is nearly double South Dakota's typical level of $15,000 for this field. While similar programs in the state suggest first-year earnings around $41,000, that's a healthy outcome that puts graduates well above the national benchmark of $33,000. The problem is you're paying private university prices for what technical colleges deliver more affordably. Southeast Technical and Lake Area Technical produce comparable or better earnings while charging far less.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.54 isn't catastrophic, but it reflects an inefficient path. For comparison, most South Dakota programs in this field keep debt closer to one-third of first-year earnings rather than half. At Mount Marty's estimated cost, your child would carry roughly $200 in monthly loan payments—manageable on a $41,000 salary, but tight when many peers enter the same jobs with half that burden.

If Mount Marty offers something specific—campus culture, connections to local law enforcement, or support your child needs—the premium might make sense. But purely as a financial investment, the state's technical colleges appear to offer better value for entering this profession. The earnings potential looks solid across South Dakota programs; the question is whether this particular route justifies its higher price tag.