Criminology at The Catholic University of America

A criminology bachelor's degree costing an estimated $26,000 in debt—drawn from similar programs at private nonprofits nationwide—positions graduates near the national benchmark of $37,476 in first-year earnings. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69 sits in manageable territory, suggesting graduates could reasonably expect to pay down their loans within a few years if they pursue typical entry-level positions in criminal justice, social services, or related government work.

The challenge with Catholic University's program is that we're working entirely from estimates since the school's graduate pool is too small to report actual outcomes. Peer criminology programs across the country show first-year earnings clustering tightly between $37,000 and $41,000, which limits the downside risk but also caps expectations. For a DC location—where federal agencies, nonprofits, and local government offer numerous criminology-adjacent opportunities—the estimated earnings seem conservative. Many graduates in the capital region find positions that pay above these national medians, though competition is fierce and connections matter.

The investment appears reasonable if your child is committed to public service or criminal justice work, particularly given Catholic University's mission-driven culture and DC networking advantages. However, the lack of school-specific data means you're placing trust in national patterns rather than proven outcomes from this particular program. Ask admissions about recent graduate placements and whether alumni connections in federal agencies translate to actual job offers.