Criminology at Mount Saint Mary College

A $26,000 debt load might sound manageable until you consider that similar criminology programs in New York suggest first-year earnings around $35,249—creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.74 that's higher than the national median for this field. While both figures are estimates based on peer programs, the underlying challenge is real: criminology bachelor's degrees in New York cluster in the mid-$30,000s for starting salaries, with even SUNY Albany's stronger outcomes only reaching $42,257. Mount Saint Mary's estimated debt sits slightly above the state median of $23,125, which compounds the challenge.

The bigger picture matters here. Nationally, criminology graduates typically earn $37,476 in their first year—about $2,200 more than what New York programs suggest—while carrying similar debt loads. This isn't a high-earning field anywhere, and the criminal justice sector often requires additional training or certifications that can delay career advancement. For a family investing in a private college education, the estimated outcomes suggest you'd be paying more than SUNY alternatives without clear evidence of better earnings results.

Before committing, get concrete placement data directly from Mount Saint Mary: where do their criminology graduates actually work, and what do they earn? The school's 82% admission rate and modest test scores suggest it's accessible, but accessibility doesn't guarantee value when the career field itself has limited earnings growth in the early years.