Criminal Justice and Corrections at Oakland City University

Oakland City University's criminal justice program produces earnings that significantly outpace national averages—graduates earn $46,038 in their first year, placing them in the 95th percentile nationally for this degree. That's more than $8,000 above the typical criminal justice graduate. However, within Indiana, the picture is more moderate: these earnings land at the 60th percentile, meaning several in-state alternatives like Calumet College of Saint Joseph ($55,587) and Vincennes University ($46,644) produce comparable or better outcomes. The debt load of $24,657 is reasonable, resulting in a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.54—well within manageable territory for this field.

The strong earnings growth of 29% over four years is encouraging, though the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these figures could shift significantly year to year. What matters most is whether your child plans to stay in Indiana or seek opportunities elsewhere. If leaving the state, this program's national standing is impressive. If staying local, it's a solid mid-tier option that won't burden graduates with excessive debt while offering meaningful income growth potential.

For an accessible program at a 68% admission rate school, the combination of low debt and strong starting salaries makes this a defensible choice—just recognize that several Indiana peers deliver similar value with potentially larger alumni networks and more stable data patterns.