Criminal Justice and Corrections at South University-West Palm Beach

At $55,652, graduates carry more than double the debt burden typical for criminal justice programs—both nationally and in Florida, where the median is $25,500. This debt load, combined with first-year earnings of $37,713, creates an uncomfortable 1.48 debt-to-earnings ratio that translates to nearly a year and a half of gross income just to cover student loans. Among Florida's 36 criminal justice programs, this one ranks in the 40th percentile for earnings, meaning 60% of comparable in-state programs deliver better starting salaries with far less debt.

The numbers become more troubling when you consider alternatives. Saint Leo University graduates earn $47,853 in their first year—26% more—while Indian River State College matches that figure too. Even as earnings grow 13% to $42,478 by year four, graduates here are still earning less than peers who started at top Florida programs four years earlier, all while managing significantly higher loan payments.

For a family considering this program, the math is difficult to justify. The high proportion of Pell grant recipients (57%) suggests many students here already face financial constraints, making the outsized debt particularly risky. Unless this specific campus offers unique career placement advantages not captured in the data, Florida families should look at state schools or other private universities where the debt-to-earnings picture is far more manageable.