Criminal Justice and Corrections at Salve Regina University

The small sample size here demands caution, but the numbers tell a troubling story: graduates of this certificate program earn $72,971—well below the $87,580 national median for criminal justice post-bacc certificates—while carrying $27,000 in debt, significantly above the national median of $20,182. You're paying more to earn less, which is exactly the opposite of what a certificate program should deliver. The 5th percentile ranking nationally for both earnings and debt (meaning 95% of similar programs have better outcomes) is particularly concerning for a credential that's supposed to enhance career prospects.

The state context offers little comfort despite the 60th percentile ranking within Rhode Island—this program is the only one of its kind in the state, making that comparison meaningless. For a post-baccalaureate certificate, which typically enrolls working professionals seeking advancement, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.37 isn't catastrophic, but it's harder to justify when earnings lag so far behind national peers. With fewer than 30 graduates tracked, these outcomes could shift dramatically with more data, but they'd need to shift significantly upward to compete with other programs.

If your child is considering this certificate, understand they're likely taking on more debt than peers elsewhere while positioning for lower earnings. Unless there are compelling geographic or personal reasons to stay in Rhode Island, exploring programs at the 16 other institutions offering this credential nationally would be prudent—particularly those achieving the $94,885 earnings seen at top-performing programs.