Criminal Justice and Corrections at Rasmussen University-North Dakota

Rasmussen's criminal justice program costs nearly twice the national median in student debt ($24,408 vs. $14,230) but delivers earnings that blow past the typical graduate by more than $14,000 annually—landing in the 95th percentile nationwide. That's a significant premium, but the first-year earnings justify it with a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.51, meaning graduates earn about $2 for every $1 borrowed.

The concerning wrinkle is what happens after year one. While most graduates start strong at $47,447, earnings actually slip to $45,519 by year four. This backwards trajectory is unusual and suggests graduates may be hitting a ceiling quickly, possibly limited by the constraints of an associate's degree in a field where advancement often requires a bachelor's. In North Dakota specifically, this program sits at the state median for both earnings and debt, ranking only in the 60th percentile—solid but not exceptional for local options.

For parents, the calculation depends on your child's plans. If they intend to work immediately and potentially pursue a bachelor's later, that strong starting salary makes the higher debt workable in the short term. But if this associate's is the endpoint, understand that earnings growth appears flat to negative, which could make that debt feel heavier over time than the initial ratio suggests.