Location: Springfield, IL•In-State Tuition: $12,252•Out-of-State Tuition: $22,017•Admission Rate: 84%•Avg SAT: 1118
Median Earnings (1yr)
$41,064
69th percentile
60th percentile in Illinois
Median Debt
$22,418
14% below national median
D/E Ratio: 0.55 ManageableSample: 34 graduates

Analysis

University of Illinois Springfield's criminal justice graduates earn $41,064 in their first year—about $1,700 above the state median and $3,200 above the national benchmark. While the program doesn't crack the top tier of Illinois criminal justice programs (where early earnings reach $46,000), it places comfortably in the 60th percentile statewide. The moderate debt load of $22,418 creates a manageable 0.55 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates typically owe about seven months of gross income. That's significantly better than the national median for this field, where many programs saddle students with over $26,000 in debt.

The 17% earnings bump from year one to year four ($41,064 to $48,147) suggests decent career progression, though criminal justice isn't known for explosive salary growth. This trajectory is fairly typical for the field—law enforcement and corrections positions tend to follow structured pay scales with predictable advancement.

For families choosing between Illinois public options, UIS offers solid middle-ground value: better earnings than many competitors while keeping debt notably below state and national norms. You're not getting premium outcomes, but you're also not paying premium debt for them. If your student is set on criminal justice and prefers a public university with reasonable costs, this is a practical choice that should allow for comfortable loan repayment within standard timelines.

Where University of Illinois Springfield Stands

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

University of Illinois SpringfieldOther criminal justice and corrections programs

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

Earnings Distribution

How University of Illinois Springfield graduates compare to all programs nationally

University of Illinois Springfield earns $41k — 69th percentile among criminal justice and corrections bachelors programs.

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
University of Illinois Springfield$41,064$48,147+17%
Elmhurst University$38,352$66,495+73%
Loyola University Chicago$38,953$61,200+57%
Aurora University$44,150$58,259+32%
Western Illinois University$40,898$57,113+40%

Compare to Similar Programs in Illinois

Criminal Justice and Corrections bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Illinois (33 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
University of Illinois SpringfieldSpringfield$12,252$41,064$48,147$22,4180.55
Benedictine UniversityLisle$34,290$46,020—$25,9790.56
Aurora UniversityAurora$28,220$44,150$58,259$23,6350.54
University of St FrancisJoliet$37,000$43,793$43,109——
North Park UniversityChicago$35,325$43,519$48,806——
DeVry University-IllinoisLisle$17,488$43,091$46,188$54,9851.28
National Median—$37,856—$26,1300.69

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 Illinois Springfield, approximately 36% 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 34 graduates with reported earnings and 41 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.