Location: Sterling, KS•In-State Tuition: $32,200•Admission Rate: 53%
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$39,317
Est. from KS median (9 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$27,000
Est. from national median (261 programs)

Analysis

Kansas criminal justice programs show dramatic salary variation, and Sterling's estimated outcomes place it squarely in the middle of this range. Based on comparable Kansas programs, graduates can expect first-year earnings around $39,300—nearly identical to the state median but far below what some in-state competitors achieve. With roughly $27,000 in debt (also derived from peer institutions), the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69 is reasonable for this field, suggesting graduates could manage repayment on an entry-level criminal justice salary.

The challenge lies in what these estimates don't reveal. Sterling's actual graduate outcomes remain unpublished due to small cohort sizes, making it impossible to know whether the program's specific curriculum, connections, or placement support help students land higher-paying positions in law enforcement, corrections administration, or related fields. Some Kansas programs—like Southwestern and Central Christian—produce graduates earning 40-50% more in their first year, which could dramatically shorten the payback period and open different career paths.

For parents, the question is whether Sterling offers advantages that justify the uncertainty. If the school provides strong personal attention, relevant internships, or geographic ties to hiring agencies your child values, the typical Kansas outcomes may be acceptable. But without verified data showing Sterling graduates outperform these estimates, you're essentially betting on the program's quality rather than relying on proven results.

Where Sterling College Stands

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

Sterling College (estimated ±10%)Other criminal justice and corrections programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Compare to Similar Programs in Kansas

Criminal Justice and Corrections bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Kansas (17 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Sterling CollegeSterling$32,200$39,317*—$27,000*—
Southwestern CollegeWinfield$38,480$60,820*$51,197—*—
Central Christian College of KansasMcPherson$21,000$55,453*$62,469$36,076*0.65
Fort Hays State UniversityHays$5,633$42,428*$46,180$28,750*0.68
Washburn UniversityTopeka$9,578$40,052*$47,413$20,822*0.52
Rasmussen University-KansasTopeka$15,340$39,317*$38,902$42,037*1.07
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 Sterling College, approximately 32% 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 9 similar programs in KS. Actual outcomes may vary.