Criminal Justice and Corrections at National University

National University's Criminal Justice program stands out dramatically in a crowded field—graduates earn $64,143 in their first year, nearly double the California median of $36,092 and landing in the 95th percentile both statewide and nationally. Among 41 California programs, this substantially outperforms even the top-ranked alternatives. The $28,014 debt burden sits just above the state median but well below the national average, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.44 that most graduates could manage in under a year.

The concerning element here is the earnings trajectory: median pay drops 13% to $55,598 by year four. This likely reflects the realities of criminal justice career paths rather than program weakness—many graduates may enter higher-paying federal or specialized positions initially, then transition to more stable local agency roles. Still, even at the four-year mark, earnings remain competitive with the field's top programs.

For parents evaluating this investment, the numbers tell a clear story: graduates start with genuinely strong earning power and manageable debt. The downward earnings trend deserves a conversation with your student about career expectations in law enforcement and corrections, but this program delivers better financial outcomes than 95% of its peers. At these income levels, the degree cost becomes very reasonable.