Location: Akron, OH•In-State Tuition: $12,799•Out-of-State Tuition: $17,239•Admission Rate: 71%•Avg SAT: 1088
Median Earnings (1yr)
$35,094
59th percentile
40th percentile in Ohio
Median Debt
$15,625
10% above national median
D/E Ratio: 0.45 ManageableSample: 20 graduates Limited data

Analysis

The University of Akron's Criminal Justice associate's program operates in an uncomfortable middle ground: it beats the national average but lags behind most Ohio programs. While the $35,094 starting salary exceeds what the typical graduate earns nationally ($33,269), it falls well short of Ohio's median of $38,497. Among 57 programs in the state, this ranks in just the 40th percentile—meaning 60% of Ohio criminal justice grads earn more right out of the gate.

The debt load of $15,625 is reasonable with a ratio of 0.45, suggesting graduates can manage payments on these salaries. Earnings do grow to $38,562 by year four, which is positive movement but still doesn't catch up to what many Ohio students earn in year one at programs like North Central State College or the various Ohio University campuses, where starting salaries exceed $44,000. For Ohio families who could access these stronger state options, the comparison matters.

The small sample size here (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift significantly year to year. If your child is set on this field and Akron offers other advantages—proximity to home, specific law enforcement connections—it's serviceable. But purely on earnings potential, other Ohio programs deliver more value, and that gap is worth investigating before committing.

Where University of Akron Main Campus Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all criminal justice and corrections associates's programs nationally

University of Akron Main CampusOther criminal justice and corrections programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How University of Akron Main Campus graduates compare to all programs nationally

University of Akron Main Campus earns $35k — 59th percentile among criminal justice and corrections associates programs.

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
University of Akron Main Campus$35,094$38,562+10%
Ohio University-Lancaster Campus$44,159$46,411+5%
Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus$44,159$46,411+5%
Ohio University-Southern Campus$44,159$46,411+5%
Ohio University-Main Campus$44,159$46,411+5%

Compare to Similar Programs in Ohio

Criminal Justice and Corrections associates's programs at peer institutions in Ohio (57 total in state)

Scroll to see more →

SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
University of Akron Main CampusAkron$12,799$35,094$38,562$15,6250.45
North Central State CollegeMansfield$4,624$47,397—$10,7820.23
Ohio University-Chillicothe CampusChillicothe$6,178$44,159$46,411$13,5000.31
Ohio University-Southern CampusIronton$6,178$44,159$46,411$13,5000.31
Ohio University-Lancaster CampusLancaster$6,178$44,159$46,411$13,5000.31
Ohio University-Main CampusAthens$13,746$44,159$46,411$13,5000.31
National Median—$33,269—$14,2300.43

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with criminal justice and corrections graduates

Financial Examiners

Enforce or ensure compliance with laws and regulations governing financial and securities institutions and financial and real estate transactions. May examine, verify, or authenticate records.

$90,400/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Emergency Management Directors

Plan and direct disaster response or crisis management activities, provide disaster preparedness training, and prepare emergency plans and procedures for natural (e.g., hurricanes, floods, earthquakes), wartime, or technological (e.g., nuclear power plant emergencies or hazardous materials spills) disasters or hostage situations.

$86,130/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in criminal justice, corrections, and law enforcement administration. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Compliance Officers

Examine, evaluate, and investigate eligibility for or conformity with laws and regulations governing contract compliance of licenses and permits, and perform other compliance and enforcement inspection and analysis activities not classified elsewhere.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Environmental Compliance Inspectors

Inspect and investigate sources of pollution to protect the public and environment and ensure conformance with Federal, State, and local regulations and ordinances.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers

Monitor and evaluate compliance with equal opportunity laws, guidelines, and policies to ensure that employment practices and contracting arrangements give equal opportunity without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Government Property Inspectors and Investigators

Investigate or inspect government property to ensure compliance with contract agreements and government regulations.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Regulatory Affairs Specialists

Coordinate and document internal regulatory processes, such as internal audits, inspections, license renewals, or registrations. May compile and prepare materials for submission to regulatory agencies.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Customs Brokers

Prepare customs documentation and ensure that shipments meet all applicable laws to facilitate the import and export of goods. Determine and track duties and taxes payable and process payments on behalf of client. Sign documents under a power of attorney. Represent clients in meetings with customs officials and apply for duty refunds and tariff reclassifications. Coordinate transportation and storage of imported goods.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Detectives and Criminal Investigators

Conduct investigations related to suspected violations of federal, state, or local laws to prevent or solve crimes.

$77,270/yrJobs growth:

Police Identification and Records Officers

Collect evidence at crime scene, classify and identify fingerprints, and photograph evidence for use in criminal and civil cases.

$77,270/yrJobs growth:

Intelligence Analysts

Gather, analyze, or evaluate information from a variety of sources, such as law enforcement databases, surveillance, intelligence networks or geographic information systems. Use intelligence data to anticipate and prevent organized crime activities, such as terrorism.

$77,270/yrJobs growth:
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At University of Akron Main Campus, approximately 29% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 20 graduates with reported earnings and 26 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.