Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degree) at University of Massachusetts Global

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$36,092

Est. from CA median (23 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$13,632

Est. from CA median (14 programs)

Analysis

Similar Criminal Justice programs across California typically produce first-year earnings around $36,000, which would give this program a relatively manageable debt-to-earnings profile if the estimated $13,600 in borrowing holds true. That ratio of 0.38 is significantly better than the national median debt load of $26,130 for this degree, suggesting UMass Global may offer a more affordable path than many alternatives.

However, the real question is whether these California-wide estimates reflect what happens at this specific institution. The top-performing Criminal Justice programs in the state—schools like National University and Cal State East Bay—report actual earnings ranging from $45,000 to $64,000, which is substantially higher than the statewide median being used here. Without reported data from UMass Global itself, it's unclear whether graduates land closer to the state average or outperform it.

For parents evaluating this investment, the estimated debt load looks reasonable, but the earnings potential remains uncertain. Criminal Justice careers can vary dramatically based on which specific roles graduates secure—law enforcement, corrections, probation services, or private sector positions all pay differently. Before committing, verify what percentage of recent graduates actually found work in their intended field and what their starting salaries looked like, information the school should be able to provide even if federal data cannot.

Where University of Massachusetts Global Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in California

Criminal Justice and Corrections bachelors's programs at peer institutions in California (41 total in state)

Scroll to see more →

School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
University of Massachusetts GlobalAliso Viejo	$12,520	$36,092*	—	$13,632*	—
National UniversitySan Diego	$13,320	$64,143*	$55,598	$28,014*	0.44
University of Phoenix-CaliforniaOntario	—	$47,987*	$44,185	$46,989*	0.98
Ashford UniversitySan Diego	$13,160	$47,869*	$46,544	$37,625*	0.79
California State University-East BayHayward	$7,055	$45,387*	$57,898	$15,500*	0.34
Point Loma Nazarene UniversitySan Diego	$43,550	$45,022*	—	$14,000*	0.31
National Median	—	$37,856*	—	$26,130*	0.69

* Estimated from similar programs

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 Massachusetts Global, approximately 23% 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.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 23 similar programs in CA. Actual outcomes may vary.