Location: Trevose, PA•In-State Tuition: $13,920
Median Earnings (1yr)
$43,405
81st percentile
60th percentile in Pennsylvania
Median Debt
$56,937
118% above national median
D/E Ratio: 1.31 ElevatedSample: 406 graduates

Analysis

Strayer University's Criminal Justice program commands premium pricing but delivers earnings that justify the investment. At $56,937 in median debt—more than double both national and Pennsylvania averages—this program initially appears expensive. However, graduates earn $43,405 in their first year, ranking in the 81st percentile nationally and solidly outperforming most competitors in Pennsylvania.

The earnings trajectory tells a positive story, with graduates seeing 17% income growth by year four, reaching $50,636. While the debt burden is substantial, the 1.31 debt-to-earnings ratio remains manageable, and the strong initial earnings help graduates service their loans. Among Pennsylvania's 52 criminal justice programs, Strayer ranks respectably in the 60th percentile, though it trails top performers like Peirce College by about $5,000 annually.

For families willing to invest in higher-cost education, this program delivers measurable returns through above-average starting salaries and steady income growth. The 68% Pell grant recipient rate suggests the school serves many first-generation college students successfully. However, parents should weigh whether the premium is worth it when Pennsylvania offers several programs with comparable earnings at much lower debt levels.

Where Strayer University-Pennsylvania Stands

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

Strayer University-PennsylvaniaOther criminal justice and corrections programs

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

Earnings Distribution

How Strayer University-Pennsylvania graduates compare to all programs nationally

Strayer University-Pennsylvania earns $43k — 81th percentile among criminal justice and corrections bachelors programs.

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
Strayer University-Pennsylvania$43,405$50,636+17%
University of Scranton$32,300$61,836+91%
Widener University$31,663$57,188+81%
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania$35,206$54,423+55%
DeSales University$45,505$53,433+17%

Compare to Similar Programs in Pennsylvania

Criminal Justice and Corrections bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Pennsylvania (52 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Strayer University-PennsylvaniaTrevose$13,920$43,405$50,636$56,9371.31
Peirce CollegePhiladelphia$15,060$48,710—$46,4400.95
Chestnut Hill CollegePhiladelphia$39,410$46,417$49,730$37,1250.80
DeSales UniversityCenter Valley$44,800$45,505$53,433$27,0000.59
York College of PennsylvaniaYork$24,606$42,175$48,331$26,0000.62
Neumann UniversityAston$37,300$41,637$49,855$27,0000.65
National Median—$37,856—$26,1300.69

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 Strayer University-Pennsylvania, approximately 68% 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.

Sample Size: Based on 406 graduates with reported earnings and 673 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.