Criminal Justice and Corrections at University of Maine at Augusta

University of Maine at Augusta's Criminal Justice program sits in an unusual position: it carries more debt than 86% of similar programs nationwide while producing earnings that trail the Maine state median by roughly $3,400 annually. Among Maine's six criminal justice programs, this one ranks in the 40th percentile—meaning students would likely see better outcomes at Husson University or Thomas College, which both show stronger early earnings.

The debt picture requires careful attention. At $36,010, graduates here borrow about $10,000 more than the national median for criminal justice degrees. The saving grace is that first-year earnings keep the debt-to-earnings ratio under 1.0, meaning graduates earn slightly more than they owe. The 16% earnings growth to year four is encouraging, though that still only brings median pay to $44,794—solid for Maine's cost of living but not exceptional for the debt load.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift significantly year to year, making this program harder to evaluate with confidence. For a family considering this investment, the key question is whether the convenience or fit of UMA justifies taking on $9,000 more debt than the state median for outcomes that currently lag behind other Maine options. If your student has access to other in-state criminal justice programs, the numbers suggest exploring those alternatives first.