Criminal Justice and Corrections at University of Massachusetts-Lowell

UMass Lowell's criminal justice graduates start modestly but gain momentum quickly, with earnings jumping 34% from year one to year four. While first-year earnings of $41,938 trail the Massachusetts median by just $387, by year four graduates reach $56,155—a trajectory that outpaces most peers in the state. The program ranks in the 74th percentile nationally but sits at the 40th percentile within Massachusetts, reflecting how competitive the state's criminal justice programs are overall. For context, you're still looking at nearly $15,000 less at year four compared to Northeastern's graduates.

The debt picture is reasonable: $26,000 puts graduates at just 0.62 times first-year earnings, meaning the loan burden is manageable even with the lower starting salary. That debt level matches both state and national medians almost exactly. The strong earnings growth suggests graduates are moving into supervisory roles or specialized positions as they gain experience, which is typical in law enforcement and corrections careers.

For an accessible public university with an 85% admission rate, this program delivers solid outcomes for students entering a stable field. The earnings trajectory matters more here than the starting point—if your child is committed to criminal justice work and wants to stay in Massachusetts, this represents a sensible, affordable path that improves significantly with time on the job.