Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degree) at Saint Leo University

Median Earnings (1yr)

$47,853

95th percentile

60th percentile in Florida

Median Debt

$30,500

17% above national median

Analysis

Saint Leo University's Criminal Justice program commands a premium price but delivers exceptional results that justify the investment. At $47,853 in first-year earnings, graduates earn nearly $10,000 more than the national median and rank in the 95th percentile nationally—placing this program among the very best in the country. While the $30,500 debt load is above both national and Florida averages, the strong earnings create a manageable debt-to-income ratio of 0.64, meaning graduates can reasonably expect to handle their loan payments.

The Florida context reveals an interesting dynamic: despite ranking 95th percentile nationally, Saint Leo sits at the 60th percentile within Florida's competitive criminal justice landscape. This suggests Florida has unusually strong programs in this field, with top performers like Herzing University-Orlando reaching $67,000+ in starting salaries. Still, Saint Leo's graduates earn $8,500 more than the typical Florida program graduate, making it a solid choice within the state.

The modest 4% earnings growth over four years is the program's main limitation, but the strong starting salary provides a solid foundation for career advancement. For families willing to invest in a private education, Saint Leo delivers measurably better outcomes than most alternatives, both nationally and within Florida's competitive market.

Where Saint Leo University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all criminal justice and corrections bachelors's programs nationally

Earnings Distribution

How Saint Leo University graduates compare to all programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School	1 Year	4 Years	Growth
Saint Leo University	$47,853	$49,948	+4%
Herzing University-Orlando	$67,229	$58,875	-12%
Lynn University	$39,496	$58,830	+49%
Strayer University-Florida	$43,405	$50,636	+17%
Florida State University	$34,922	$49,000	+40%

Compare to Similar Programs in Florida

Criminal Justice and Corrections bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Florida (36 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Saint Leo UniversitySaint Leo	$28,360	$47,853	$49,948	$30,500	0.64
Herzing University-OrlandoWinter Park	$13,420	$67,229	$58,875	$28,399	0.42
Strayer University-FloridaTampa	$13,920	$43,405	$50,636	$56,937	1.31
Indian River State CollegeFort Pierce	$2,764	$43,351	$39,116	$12,000	0.28
DeVry University-FloridaOrlando	$17,488	$43,091	$46,188	$54,985	1.28
Southeastern UniversityLakeland	$31,732	$41,291	—	$26,000	0.63
National Median	—	$37,856	—	$26,130	0.69

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with criminal justice and corrections graduates

Financial Examiners

Enforce or ensure compliance with laws and regulations governing financial and securities institutions and financial and real estate transactions. May examine, verify, or authenticate records.

$90,400/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Emergency Management Directors

Plan and direct disaster response or crisis management activities, provide disaster preparedness training, and prepare emergency plans and procedures for natural (e.g., hurricanes, floods, earthquakes), wartime, or technological (e.g., nuclear power plant emergencies or hazardous materials spills) disasters or hostage situations.

$86,130/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in criminal justice, corrections, and law enforcement administration. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Compliance Officers

Examine, evaluate, and investigate eligibility for or conformity with laws and regulations governing contract compliance of licenses and permits, and perform other compliance and enforcement inspection and analysis activities not classified elsewhere.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Environmental Compliance Inspectors

Inspect and investigate sources of pollution to protect the public and environment and ensure conformance with Federal, State, and local regulations and ordinances.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers

Monitor and evaluate compliance with equal opportunity laws, guidelines, and policies to ensure that employment practices and contracting arrangements give equal opportunity without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Government Property Inspectors and Investigators

Investigate or inspect government property to ensure compliance with contract agreements and government regulations.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Regulatory Affairs Specialists

Coordinate and document internal regulatory processes, such as internal audits, inspections, license renewals, or registrations. May compile and prepare materials for submission to regulatory agencies.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Customs Brokers

Prepare customs documentation and ensure that shipments meet all applicable laws to facilitate the import and export of goods. Determine and track duties and taxes payable and process payments on behalf of client. Sign documents under a power of attorney. Represent clients in meetings with customs officials and apply for duty refunds and tariff reclassifications. Coordinate transportation and storage of imported goods.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Detectives and Criminal Investigators

Conduct investigations related to suspected violations of federal, state, or local laws to prevent or solve crimes.

$77,270/yrJobs growth:

Police Identification and Records Officers

Collect evidence at crime scene, classify and identify fingerprints, and photograph evidence for use in criminal and civil cases.

$77,270/yrJobs growth:

Intelligence Analysts

Gather, analyze, or evaluate information from a variety of sources, such as law enforcement databases, surveillance, intelligence networks or geographic information systems. Use intelligence data to anticipate and prevent organized crime activities, such as terrorism.

$77,270/yrJobs growth:

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Saint Leo University, approximately 37% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 328 graduates with reported earnings and 429 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.