Criminal Justice and Corrections at University of Illinois Chicago

UIC's Criminal Justice program graduates start significantly behind their peers—both nationally and within Illinois—but the trajectory tells a more optimistic story. First-year earnings of $34,551 place graduates in just the 27th percentile nationally and 40th percentile statewide, trailing the Illinois median by nearly $5,000. However, by year four, earnings jump 45% to nearly $50,000, suggesting graduates who stick with the field find their footing in Chicago's public sector and law enforcement markets.

The program's real advantage is remarkably low debt. At $15,875, graduates carry less than half the state median and rank in the 95th percentile nationally for affordability—a crucial factor for a field where starting salaries rarely crack $40,000. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.46 means most graduates can manage payments even during those lean early years. For the 50% of students receiving Pell grants, this debt load makes a law enforcement or corrections career genuinely accessible.

The tradeoff is clear: you're accepting a slower start than competitors like Benedictine or Aurora, whose graduates earn $10,000+ more right away. But if your child can navigate those first years—perhaps living at home or working overtime—the combination of minimal debt and strong earnings growth makes this a viable path into criminal justice without the financial burden that typically comes with it.