Criminology at Purdue University Global

Purdue University Global's online criminology associate's program punches well above its weight class nationally, with graduates earning $36,766—nearly $4,000 more than the national median and placing in the 95th percentile nationwide. That's remarkable performance for an associate's degree, especially from an institution serving a predominantly working-class student body (48% receive Pell grants).

The debt picture strengthens the case considerably. At $22,744, graduates leave with manageable debt that equals just 62% of their first-year earnings—well below the concerning 1.0 threshold that signals potential repayment struggles. This is actually the lowest debt burden among criminology associate's programs nationwide (5th percentile), meaning students here borrow less than 95% of their peers nationally while earning more. For families worried about loan repayment, that's a compelling combination.

The catch? This is Indiana's only criminology associate's program in the federal data, so there's no in-state competition to benchmark against. Still, the national comparison tells a clear story: graduates here out-earn three-quarters of their peers nationwide while carrying minimal debt. For students interested in criminal justice careers—whether in law enforcement, corrections, or related fields—this program delivers strong early-career outcomes without the financial burden that often accompanies career-focused degrees.