Location: Chicago, IL•In-State Tuition: $35,325•Admission Rate: 73%
Median Earnings (1yr)
$43,519
82nd percentile
60th percentile in Illinois
Est. Median Debt
$25,979
Est. from IL median (11 programs)
Sample: 19 graduates Limited data

Analysis

North Park's criminal justice program produces earnings of $43,519 in the first year—results that place it in the 82nd percentile nationally and comfortably above the state median of $39,317. These figures are actual reported outcomes for this school's graduates, though the estimated debt of $25,979 comes from comparable IL programs since this program's debt data was suppressed.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.60 suggests manageable repayment, with graduates earning enough in their first year to handle typical 10-year loan payments while covering living expenses. The debt estimate aligns closely with the state median for criminal justice programs ($25,751), and earnings growth to $48,806 by year four shows steady progression. Among IL schools with reported data, North Park sits in the middle of the pack—behind Benedictine and Aurora but ahead of several larger state universities.

For parents weighing this investment, the combination of above-average earnings and reasonable estimated debt makes this a relatively sound choice for criminal justice. The school serves a substantial low-income population (43% Pell-eligible), yet still delivers outcomes that exceed most peer programs nationally. If your child is committed to criminal justice work in the Chicago area, these numbers support moving forward, though comparing actual financial aid packages against other IL options would clarify the final cost picture.

Where North Park University Stands

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

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

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

Earnings Distribution

How North Park University graduates compare to all programs nationally

North Park University earns $44k — 82th percentile among criminal justice and corrections bachelors programs.

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
North Park University$43,519$48,806+12%
Elmhurst University$38,352$66,495+73%
Loyola University Chicago$38,953$61,200+57%
Aurora University$44,150$58,259+32%
Western Illinois University$40,898$57,113+40%

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
North Park UniversityChicago$35,325$43,519$48,806$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—*—
DeVry University-IllinoisLisle$17,488$43,091$46,188$54,985*1.28
Governors State UniversityUniversity Park$11,320$42,456$51,833$22,889*0.54
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 North Park University, approximately 43% 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.

Sample Size: Based on 19 graduates with reported earnings and 13 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.