Criminal Justice and Corrections at University of Central Florida

UCF's Criminal Justice program falls just below the median both nationally and in Florida, placing graduates in an earnings bracket that lags behind most peer institutions in the state. Starting at $36,563 annually, graduates earn roughly $3,000 less than the state median for this field—a gap that persists even after four years, when earnings reach $41,772. In Florida's crowded criminal justice landscape, this program ranks in the 40th percentile, trailing not just private universities like Saint Leo but also public competitors like Indian River State College.

The debt picture provides some relief. At $21,731, UCF graduates carry significantly less debt than both the state median ($25,500) and national median ($26,130), resulting in a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.59. That lighter debt load matters in a field where starting salaries are modest. The 14% earnings growth from year one to year four suggests steady career progression, though it doesn't close the gap with higher-performing programs in the state.

For Florida families, this becomes a value calculation: UCF offers the lowest debt burden among major programs, but graduates earn roughly $5,000-$7,000 less annually than peers at top-performing Florida schools. If your child is committed to criminal justice and cost containment is the priority, UCF delivers an affordable path. But if maximizing earning potential matters more, the state has stronger options that justify their higher price tags.