Criminal Justice and Corrections at University of Northern Colorado

Northern Colorado's criminal justice program presents an unusual scenario: graduates start below the state median but finish ahead of where they began, making this more about trajectory than starting salary. At $38,422 in year one, earnings trail most Colorado programs, but the 29% growth to nearly $50,000 by year four suggests graduates are climbing into supervisory or specialized roles that command better pay. Still, that initial salary—landing this program in the 40th percentile among Colorado schools—matters when you're making rent payments right out of college.

The debt picture is the standout strength here. At $18,568, graduates owe roughly 70% less than the typical Colorado criminal justice student and roughly a third of what most programs nationally require. That 0.48 debt-to-earnings ratio means your child could theoretically pay off their loans in under six months if they devoted every penny to it—a mathematical exercise, obviously, but it illustrates manageable pressure. With nine other programs in Colorado, this combination of low debt and solid growth separates UNC from pricier alternatives that start only marginally higher.

For families weighing cost against outcomes, this program works if you're comfortable with a modest starting salary in exchange for minimal debt and reasonable progression. The 29% earnings bump suggests career advancement is achievable, though starting $4,000 below the state median means the first year will feel tighter than at Metro State or CU Denver.