Criminology at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania

Slippery Rock's criminology graduates earn slightly below both national and Pennsylvania medians, landing around the 40th percentile in each comparison. First-year earnings of $36,276 trail the state median by about $1,500 and the national figure by roughly $1,200. Among Pennsylvania's 20 criminology programs, this means Slippery Rock sits in the bottom half, noticeably behind schools like Saint Joseph's ($43,283) and even the more affordable Indiana University of Pennsylvania ($37,911). The debt load of $25,990 is reasonable and below the state median, giving graduates a manageable 0.72 debt-to-earnings ratio—they're borrowing less than one year's salary.

The 18% earnings growth from year one to year four offers some reassurance that graduates aren't stuck at entry-level wages. By four years out, median earnings reach $42,648, which represents solid progression in a field known for structured advancement paths in corrections, probation, and law enforcement. The moderate sample size means these figures reflect real outcomes, not statistical noise.

For families choosing between Pennsylvania criminology programs, this is a middle-of-the-road option. The debt is manageable, but you're paying for outcomes that lag peer institutions in the state. If your child has admission offers from schools in the upper half of Pennsylvania's criminology rankings, those programs deliver meaningfully higher starting salaries for similar or only slightly higher debt.