Criminology at Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia

Saint Joseph's criminology graduates earn $43,283 in their first year—well above the national median and roughly in line with Pennsylvania's middle tier. What's more striking is the four-year trajectory: earnings jump 54% to $66,640, suggesting this program opens doors to career advancement rather than leaving graduates stuck in entry-level positions. At $25,000 in debt, you're looking at a manageable burden that's about half of that first-year salary.

The caveat here matters: these figures come from fewer than 30 graduates, so there's less statistical confidence than you'd want. Still, the pattern is encouraging. This program outperforms nationally but sits squarely mid-pack among Pennsylvania's 20 criminology programs—not the cheapest option (debt matches the national median while PA schools typically run $27,000), but the earnings growth trajectory suggests stronger professional networks or career services than typical.

For a family weighing this against Lycoming or Drexel, those schools show slightly lower starting pay but may have larger sample sizes. The real question is whether Saint Joseph's track record of earnings growth holds with more data. If your child is committed to criminology and values Philadelphia's career opportunities in law enforcement or criminal justice, the debt load is reasonable enough to take the bet—just recognize you're working with limited information.