Criminal Justice and Corrections at Rasmussen University-Wisconsin

Rasmussen's criminal justice program commands premium tuition—graduates carry nearly double the debt of typical Wisconsin students in this field ($24,408 vs. $13,750 state median)—but the earnings don't justify the price tag. While first-year earnings of $47,447 beat the national average by 43%, they're only modestly above Wisconsin's median and fall well short of what Southwest Wisconsin Technical College delivers ($51,806). More concerning: earnings actually decline to $45,519 by year four, suggesting graduates may be starting in higher-paying correctional positions but not advancing as expected.

Within Wisconsin's 23 criminal justice programs, this ranks solidly middle-of-the-pack (60th percentile), despite costing significantly more. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.51 is manageable but still represents a financial burden that Wisconsin tech colleges avoid—most carry half the debt while producing comparable or better outcomes. With 57% of students receiving Pell grants, that extra debt burden hits families who can least afford it.

For families comparing options, Wisconsin's technical colleges offer a clearer path: similar or better starting salaries with dramatically less debt. Unless Rasmussen provides specific advantages—like evening classes or transfer credits your child needs—the premium price doesn't translate to premium outcomes in this field.