Criminal Justice and Corrections at Seton Hall University

The first year after graduation is rough—$27,167 puts graduates below poverty levels for many households and in just the 5th percentile nationally for criminal justice programs. But here's what matters: earnings nearly double by year four to $52,453, suggesting graduates land entry-level positions that lead to better opportunities in law enforcement, corrections, or related fields where advancement typically requires experience and certification. Even with that growth trajectory, though, Seton Hall's program trails other New Jersey options like Strayer ($43,405) and Felician ($41,141), while costing about the same in debt.

At $23,250 in median debt, graduates aren't over-leveraged, but they're paying private university prices for outcomes you can get cheaper elsewhere in the state. The 25th percentile ranking among New Jersey criminal justice programs tells the real story: three-quarters of alternatives perform better. For a family considering a $60,000+ investment in tuition and expenses, this program doesn't deliver competitive value unless there's a compelling institutional fit beyond earnings—perhaps networking connections or specific career services. The strong earnings growth shows the field rewards persistence, but starting that journey $10,000 behind peers from comparable New Jersey schools makes the first few years unnecessarily difficult.