Criminal Justice and Corrections at NUC University

NUC University's Criminal Justice program sits at a fascinating crossroads: graduates earn just $22,882 initially (landing in the 5th percentile nationally), yet this places them in the 80th percentile among Puerto Rico programs. That contrast tells the real story—Puerto Rico's criminal justice job market operates on a completely different wage scale than the mainland, where the national median is $37,856. With $27,000 in debt and a 1.18 debt-to-earnings ratio, graduates face significant repayment challenges relative to their income, though the debt level itself isn't unusually high for the field.

What matters most is that this program performs notably better than most Puerto Rico alternatives. Graduates earn $7,000 more annually than the state median and outpace all but four other programs in PR. The modest 9% earnings growth to $25,000 by year four suggests stability rather than advancement, but in a market where many programs produce sub-$16,000 outcomes, NUC delivers comparative value.

For families committed to staying in Puerto Rico's criminal justice field, this program makes sense as a regional leader despite weak national numbers. However, any student considering work on the mainland should understand they'll be competing at a severe earnings disadvantage. The 71% Pell Grant rate reflects that most students here are investing heavily relative to their family resources—making career planning and geographic flexibility after graduation especially important considerations.