Criminal Justice and Corrections at St. Francis College

St. Francis College's Criminal Justice program starts rough but shows something unusual: graduates see their earnings jump 68% by year four, reaching $55,538—significantly above both the state median of $35,291 and the national benchmark of $37,856. The catch? That first year out is genuinely tough, with $33,146 putting grads well below typical starting points for this degree.

The $26,000 debt load is typical for criminal justice programs, but paired with that low first-year salary, it creates real financial pressure early on. However, the four-year trajectory suggests graduates are breaking into better-paying positions—possibly federal law enforcement or specialized corrections roles—that take time to access. Within New York, this lands at the 40th percentile: unremarkable compared to places like Excelsior or Utica, but the strong earnings growth tells a different story than the rankings suggest.

The meaningful caveat here is the small sample size (under 30 graduates), which means a few atypical outcomes could skew these numbers significantly. If the pattern holds, this program rewards patience—but that first year or two will require financial cushion or support. Parents should verify whether their child has the stamina for entry-level criminal justice work and potentially lean living arrangements while building toward those better-paid positions.