Criminology at University of New Hampshire-Main Campus

UNH's criminology program manages something unusual: graduates carry just $27,000 in debt—less than 95% of criminology programs nationwide—while their earnings climb 32% to reach $52,536 by year four. That trajectory matters because many criminal justice careers involve structured advancement through civil service or agency ranks, and UNH grads appear to be progressing well. The debt load represents just 8 months of that fourth-year salary, creating manageable repayment prospects even on public sector wages.

The catch is New Hampshire context. At $39,814 in first-year earnings, this program trails Saint Anselm's criminology grads by $7,000 annually and sits below the state median for the field. With only two schools offering criminology in New Hampshire, that 40th percentile ranking essentially means middle-of-the-pack in-state. Nationally, though, UNH performs better—beating 69% of programs in earnings while maintaining unusually low debt.

For parents, this translates to a solid foundation rather than a standout opportunity. The combination of affordable debt and steady earnings growth makes this program a reasonable path into law enforcement, corrections, or related fields, particularly if your student values UNH's campus or receives additional aid. Just understand they'll likely start a step behind peers at the state's top program, though the gap narrows as careers progress.