Criminal Justice and Corrections at Simpson College

Simpson College's Criminal Justice program produces graduates who earn nearly $5,000 more than the national median for this field, placing it in the 79th percentile nationally—an impressive showing for a program with an 89% admission rate. However, the Iowa-specific picture tells a more nuanced story: at $42,862 in first-year earnings, Simpson sits exactly at the state median, putting it in the middle of the pack among Iowa's 17 criminal justice programs. Graduates here earn less than peers at Loras ($47,413) or University of Dubuque ($46,307), though they're competitive with larger state schools like Northern Iowa.

The debt load of $27,000 translates to a manageable 0.63 ratio against first-year earnings, and graduates see solid 16% earnings growth over four years. For Iowa families weighing in-state options, Simpson offers predictable outcomes: you'll likely earn what most other Iowa criminal justice graduates earn, with debt that won't overwhelm your budget.

The caveat matters here: these figures come from fewer than 30 graduates, so your child's outcome could vary significantly from these medians. If they're committed to staying in Iowa and want a smaller college environment, Simpson delivers competitive results. If maximizing earnings is the priority, Loras or Dubuque show stronger graduate outcomes in this field.