Criminal Justice and Corrections at SUNY Brockport

SUNY Brockport's Criminal Justice program might surprise parents who assume state schools offer poor career outcomes. While graduates start at $35,495—trailing the national median—they climb to nearly $49,000 by year four, representing 37% growth that outpaces typical trajectories in this field. More importantly, this program ranks in the 60th percentile among New York criminal justice programs, meaning it outperforms the majority of in-state alternatives despite costing less than private competitors like Keuka or Hilbert.

The debt picture reinforces the value case: at $21,660, graduates owe roughly $4,000 less than the state median and can expect to earn 168% of their debt in their fourth year working. That's a manageable burden for a field where earnings grow with experience and civil service advancement. The relatively accessible admissions (71% acceptance rate) mean most applicants can access these outcomes without needing perfect credentials.

The bottom line? This won't launch your child into a high-paying career immediately, but it's a financially sensible path into law enforcement or corrections work. With strong earnings growth and below-average debt, it offers better risk-adjusted returns than most New York criminal justice programs—especially when you factor in SUNY's in-state tuition advantage.