Criminal Justice and Corrections at NUC University

At just over $22,000 in first-year earnings, this program lands in the bottom 5% nationally for criminal justice associate's degrees—a concerning gap when the national median sits at $33,269. The picture within Puerto Rico is more nuanced: while this program ranks at the 60th percentile statewide, that's largely because criminal justice earnings across the island run far below mainland levels. The top Puerto Rico program (Ana G. Mendez-Cupey) only reaches $25,779, showing how constrained the local job market is for this field.

The $15,466 in debt might seem manageable at first glance—it's actually higher than the Puerto Rico median of $5,500 for this program—but the real concern is what happens after graduation. Earnings decline to $21,722 by year four, meaning graduates are earning less four years into their careers than at the start. For the 71% of students here receiving Pell grants, taking on above-average debt for a program with declining earnings is particularly risky.

If your child is committed to criminal justice work in Puerto Rico and can minimize debt, this represents the middle of the pack locally. But they should understand they're entering a field that pays far less than the mainland equivalent and, based on this data, may not offer much room for salary growth.