Criminal Justice and Corrections at University of Phoenix-California

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.