Est. Earnings (1yr)
$49,019
Est. from MN median (13 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$28,399
Est. from MN median (3 programs)

Analysis

Minnesota's criminal justice programs suggest first-year earnings around $49,000 for bachelor's degree holders—notably higher than the national median of $37,856 for this field. Oak Hills' estimated outcomes align with this state pattern, though they trail behind some nearby options like Bemidji State University, which reports actual earnings of $49,617, and regional leaders like Saint Mary's University at $64,894.

The estimated debt of $28,400 yields a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.58, meaning graduates could expect to owe roughly seven months of first-year salary. That's within reasonable bounds for debt repayment, particularly given that 45% of Oak Hills students receive Pell grants, suggesting the school serves many students who might otherwise struggle to access higher education. However, parents should recognize that criminal justice salaries in Minnesota vary widely depending on whether graduates enter corrections, law enforcement, or related social services roles.

With nearly 20 criminal justice programs across Minnesota, shopping around makes sense. The variation in reported outcomes—from $49,617 at Bemidji State to over $67,000 at Herzing—suggests that employer networks and program focus matter significantly. Since Oak Hills is a small Christian college with limited graduate data, connecting with alumni about their actual career paths would help determine whether this program delivers the professional connections that turn a degree into secure employment.

Where Oak Hills Christian College Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Minnesota

Criminal Justice and Corrections bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Minnesota (19 total in state)

Scroll to see more →

SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Oak Hills Christian CollegeBemidji$18,910$49,019*$28,399*
Herzing University-MinneapolisSt. Louis Park$13,420$67,229*$58,875$28,399*0.42
Saint Mary's University of MinnesotaWinona$43,160$64,894*$58,646$28,708*0.44
Metropolitan State UniversitySaint Paul$9,780$52,125*$52,541$29,426*0.56
Walden UniversityMinneapolis$12,498$50,634*$48,565$48,133*0.95
Bemidji State UniversityBemidji$10,164$49,617*$52,130$23,181*0.47
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 Oak Hills Christian College, approximately 45% 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.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 13 similar programs in MN. Actual outcomes may vary.