Criminology at SUNY Old Westbury

SUNY Old Westbury's criminology program delivers solid middle-tier results while keeping debt remarkably low. Starting at $38,764, graduates earn about $3,500 more than the typical New York criminology grad and place in the 60th percentile both statewide and nationally. More importantly, they carry just $17,800 in debt—roughly $5,300 below the New York median and nearly $7,200 below the national average. That 0.46 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe less than half their first-year salary, creating manageable monthly payments even on entry-level criminal justice wages.

The earnings trajectory looks promising, with income jumping 23% to $47,612 by year four. While Old Westbury doesn't match SUNY Albany's higher earnings, it outperforms several more selective programs including Hofstra and John Jay, schools that typically carry higher price tags. For a campus serving nearly half Pell-eligible students, these outcomes suggest effective placement into decent-paying positions without burdening graduates with heavy debt loads.

The main tradeoff is accepting middle-range earnings rather than pursuing the field's highest-paying opportunities. But for families concerned about college affordability—especially in-state students benefiting from SUNY tuition rates—this program delivers value through the combination of competitive earnings and notably lower debt. Your child graduates financially stable, not debt-trapped.