Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degree) at St. Thomas University

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$39,407

Est. from FL median (20 programs)

Median Debt

$25,000

4% below national median

Analysis

Among the 36 criminal justice bachelor's programs in Florida, earnings vary dramatically—from around $67,000 at the top end down to the mid-$30s. Similar programs across the state suggest St. Thomas graduates start near $39,400, which sits right at Florida's median for this field but slightly above the national benchmark of $37,856. The four-year earnings figure of $44,795 shows modest growth, though it remains well below what graduates from top-performing state programs achieve.

The $25,000 debt load aligns closely with both state and national medians for criminal justice degrees, producing a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.63. That's manageable—graduates would owe roughly 7.5 months of their first-year salary. However, the comparison to higher-earning programs in Florida is stark: Herzing and Saint Leo graduates reportedly earn $20,000-$28,000 more annually, which could translate to significantly faster debt payoff and greater financial flexibility.

The key question is whether this program's outcomes justify the private school price tag when Florida's public colleges offer criminal justice degrees at lower costs with comparable or better earnings potential. Given the uncertainty around these estimates and the availability of stronger alternatives within the state, parents should carefully weigh whether St. Thomas offers specific advantages—like location, networking, or student support—that offset the financial trade-offs inherent in choosing a mid-performing program at this price point.

Where St. Thomas University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all criminal justice and corrections bachelors's programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School	1 Year	4 Years	Growth
St. Thomas University	—	$44,795	—
Herzing University-Orlando	$67,229	$58,875	-12%
Lynn University	$39,496	$58,830	+49%
Strayer University-Florida	$43,405	$50,636	+17%
Saint Leo University	$47,853	$49,948	+4%

Compare to Similar Programs in Florida

Criminal Justice and Corrections bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Florida (36 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
St. Thomas UniversityMiami Gardens	$34,770	$39,407*	$44,795	$25,000	—
Herzing University-OrlandoWinter Park	$13,420	$67,229*	$58,875	$28,399	0.42
Saint Leo UniversitySaint Leo	$28,360	$47,853*	$49,948	$30,500	0.64
Strayer University-FloridaTampa	$13,920	$43,405*	$50,636	$56,937	1.31
Indian River State CollegeFort Pierce	$2,764	$43,351*	$39,116	$12,000	0.28
DeVry University-FloridaOrlando	$17,488	$43,091*	$46,188	$54,985	1.28
National Median	—	$37,856*	—	$26,130	0.69

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with criminal justice and corrections graduates

Financial Examiners

Enforce or ensure compliance with laws and regulations governing financial and securities institutions and financial and real estate transactions. May examine, verify, or authenticate records.

$90,400/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Emergency Management Directors

Plan and direct disaster response or crisis management activities, provide disaster preparedness training, and prepare emergency plans and procedures for natural (e.g., hurricanes, floods, earthquakes), wartime, or technological (e.g., nuclear power plant emergencies or hazardous materials spills) disasters or hostage situations.

$86,130/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in criminal justice, corrections, and law enforcement administration. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Compliance Officers

Examine, evaluate, and investigate eligibility for or conformity with laws and regulations governing contract compliance of licenses and permits, and perform other compliance and enforcement inspection and analysis activities not classified elsewhere.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Environmental Compliance Inspectors

Inspect and investigate sources of pollution to protect the public and environment and ensure conformance with Federal, State, and local regulations and ordinances.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers

Monitor and evaluate compliance with equal opportunity laws, guidelines, and policies to ensure that employment practices and contracting arrangements give equal opportunity without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Government Property Inspectors and Investigators

Investigate or inspect government property to ensure compliance with contract agreements and government regulations.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Regulatory Affairs Specialists

Coordinate and document internal regulatory processes, such as internal audits, inspections, license renewals, or registrations. May compile and prepare materials for submission to regulatory agencies.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Customs Brokers

Prepare customs documentation and ensure that shipments meet all applicable laws to facilitate the import and export of goods. Determine and track duties and taxes payable and process payments on behalf of client. Sign documents under a power of attorney. Represent clients in meetings with customs officials and apply for duty refunds and tariff reclassifications. Coordinate transportation and storage of imported goods.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Detectives and Criminal Investigators

Conduct investigations related to suspected violations of federal, state, or local laws to prevent or solve crimes.

$77,270/yrJobs growth:

Police Identification and Records Officers

Collect evidence at crime scene, classify and identify fingerprints, and photograph evidence for use in criminal and civil cases.

$77,270/yrJobs growth:

Intelligence Analysts

Gather, analyze, or evaluate information from a variety of sources, such as law enforcement databases, surveillance, intelligence networks or geographic information systems. Use intelligence data to anticipate and prevent organized crime activities, such as terrorism.

$77,270/yrJobs growth:

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At St. Thomas University, approximately 25% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 20 similar programs in FL. Actual outcomes may vary.