Criminology at The University of Tampa

Tampa's Criminology program starts graduates nearly $3,000 below the national average at $34,137, which places it in just the 27th percentile nationally—meaning three-quarters of similar programs launch graduates into higher-paying jobs. While it performs slightly better against Florida programs specifically (40th percentile), it still trails the state median and sits well behind alternatives like Barry University ($44,015) or Florida Southern College ($39,713). The $25,000 in debt matches national averages but exceeds Florida's typical burden of $22,651, creating an initial debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.73 that's workable but not impressive.

The silver lining here is meaningful earnings growth: salaries jump 34% to $45,871 by year four, suggesting graduates find their footing in the field after gaining experience. However, this trajectory still leaves them earning less at the four-year mark than Barry graduates make immediately after graduation. For a selective private institution where only 16% of students receive Pell grants, these outcomes raise questions about return on investment.

If your child is set on criminology in Florida, they'd be better served by public options like the University of Florida (same first-year earnings, lower tuition) or by reaching for higher-performing private programs. Tampa's eventual earnings growth doesn't fully compensate for the weaker starting position and higher sticker price.