Criminal Justice and Corrections at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

Saint Mary's criminal justice graduates start at an impressive $64,894—71% above the national median and topping nearly all Minnesota programs except one. That's remarkable for a field where earnings typically hover around $38,000 nationally. Even the debt load of $28,708 sits below the 25th percentile nationally, making the debt-to-earnings ratio an exceptional 0.44. Among Minnesota's 19 criminal justice programs, this ranks in the 80th percentile for earnings.

The concerning signal here is the earnings decline—graduates see a 10% drop to $58,646 by year four. This pattern suggests graduates may be entering specialized or temporary positions that don't lead to typical career progression. However, even at year four, they're still earning substantially more than their peers elsewhere. The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift with different cohorts, but the pattern has been consistent enough to place this program among the top 5% nationally.

For parents weighing this option: your child would be graduating with manageable debt and starting pay that beats 95% of similar programs. The earnings dip warrants questions about typical career paths and why advancement seems limited, but the strong starting position and low debt burden create meaningful financial breathing room that most criminal justice graduates don't have.