Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degree) at University of Phoenix-California

Median Earnings (1yr)

$47,987

95th percentile

80th percentile in California

Median Debt

$46,989

80% above national median

Analysis

This University of Phoenix program delivers exceptionally strong earnings outcomes but comes with significantly higher debt than typical California alternatives. Graduates earn a median of $47,987 in their first year—ranking in the 95th percentile nationally and 80th percentile among California criminal justice programs. This puts earnings well above both the national median ($37,856) and California median ($36,092) for this field.

The concerning aspect is the debt burden of $46,989, which is more than triple California's typical debt load of $15,000 for this program. While the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.98 isn't catastrophic, it means graduates are borrowing nearly a full year's salary. More troubling is the negative earnings growth—salaries actually decline by 8% from year one to year four, dropping to $44,185.

For families willing to pay a premium, this program does deliver superior initial earning power compared to most alternatives in California and nationwide. However, the high debt combined with declining earnings suggests graduates may struggle with loan payments over time. Unless your child has specific career goals that justify the premium price point, California's public universities offer similar criminal justice programs with dramatically lower debt burdens, making them potentially better long-term investments despite lower starting salaries.

Where University of Phoenix-California Stands

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

Earnings Distribution

How University of Phoenix-California graduates compare to all programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School	1 Year	4 Years	Growth
University of Phoenix-California	$47,987	$44,185	-8%
Sonoma State University	$38,444	$58,007	+51%
California State University-East Bay	$45,387	$57,898	+28%
California Baptist University	$35,960	$57,399	+60%
San Francisco State University	$42,211	$56,243	+33%

Compare to Similar Programs in California

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

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
University of Phoenix-CaliforniaOntario	—	$47,987	$44,185	$46,989	0.98
National UniversitySan Diego	$13,320	$64,143	$55,598	$28,014	0.44
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
California Lutheran UniversityThousand Oaks	$50,670	$43,122	$54,280	$20,000	0.46
National Median	—	$37,856	—	$26,130	0.69

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 Phoenix-California, approximately 24% 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.

Sample Size: Based on 1294 graduates with reported earnings and 1748 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.