Criminal Justice and Corrections at Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus

At just under $20,000 in first-year earnings, this Criminal Justice program ranks near the bottom nationally but sits right in the middle of Puerto Rico's market—a critical distinction for families considering in-state options. While graduates earn less than half the national median for this degree, they're outperforming 60% of similar programs across the island. The $15,250 debt load is manageable relative to earnings (0.80 ratio), and the 24% earnings growth by year four suggests the degree opens doors to better positions over time.

The reality is that Puerto Rico's criminal justice job market operates on a completely different pay scale than the mainland. Compare this program to others on the island: it lands near the middle of the pack, trailing the top programs by a few thousand dollars annually but staying competitive with most alternatives. For the 70% of students here on Pell grants, who likely need to stay close to home, this represents a viable path into law enforcement or corrections work without taking on crushing debt.

The tradeoff is clear: graduates enter a lower-wage market but avoid the debt trap that plagues criminal justice students nationally (where median debt exceeds $26,000). If your child plans to remain in Puerto Rico and can accept starting salaries in the low-$20,000s, this program delivers predictable outcomes at a reasonable cost. Moving to the mainland after graduation could improve earnings prospects, though that comes with its own transition costs.