Criminal Justice and Corrections at Rasmussen University-Illinois

Rasmussen's criminal justice program graduates earn above the national median and match the state median at $39,317, placing it in the 60th percentile among Illinois programs. However, the real challenge here is the $42,000 debt load—nearly double the state median of $25,751 and significantly higher than what peers carry at comparable Illinois schools. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.07 means graduates owe more than they'll earn in their first year, and with earnings essentially flat after four years ($38,902), they're not growing their way out of it.

The pattern is particularly concerning when you look at what similar students accomplish elsewhere. Programs at Benedictine ($46,020) and Aurora ($44,150) place graduates in positions earning $5,000-7,000 more annually, which compounds dramatically over a career in criminal justice—a field not known for rapid salary growth. With 63% of Rasmussen students receiving Pell grants, many families are borrowing for a credential that delivers median outcomes at above-median cost.

If your child is committed to criminal justice in Illinois, the state offers 33 programs, and several deliver better earning potential with substantially less debt. The moderate sample size here provides reasonable confidence in the data, but the mathematics are straightforward: starting a career owing more than you earn, in a field where salaries stay relatively flat, creates years of financial constraint that could be avoided with different program choices.