Criminal Justice and Corrections at University of Illinois Springfield

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.