Criminal Justice and Corrections at Salve Regina University

Salve Regina's criminal justice program shows something unusual: graduates start slightly below average but experience robust 41% earnings growth by year four, reaching $51,855. That trajectory matters more than the modest $36,898 starting salary, especially with manageable debt of $27,000—just three-quarters of that first-year income.

The challenge is Rhode Island context. At the 40th percentile statewide, Salve trails Roger Williams by nearly $10,000 in starting earnings, and even Rhode Island College edges it out. Among the state's six programs, this sits solidly in the middle tier. Nationally, it's also middle-of-the-pack at the 43rd percentile, performing just below the $37,856 national median. For a school with a $1,236 SAT average serving primarily higher-income students (only 15% receive Pell grants), these outcomes suggest the premium tuition may not translate to premium job placement.

The strong year-four earnings deserve attention—that 41% growth indicates graduates find their footing in law enforcement, corrections, or related fields where experience pays. If your child is committed to criminal justice and values Salve's campus culture, the debt load won't sink them. But families expecting this degree to deliver immediate returns comparable to the top Rhode Island programs should adjust expectations. Roger Williams offers meaningfully better placement for the same career path in the same state.