Criminal Justice and Corrections at University of Pittsburgh-Bradford

At first glance, University of Pittsburgh-Bradford's Criminal Justice program appears to land squarely in the middle of the pack—ranking in the 40th percentile among Pennsylvania programs and slightly below that nationally. But the real story emerges over time: graduates see 37% earnings growth from year one to year four, jumping from $36,959 to $50,768. That's a significant trajectory that puts four-year outcomes well above both state and national medians, even as starting salaries lag behind.

The $27,000 debt load is right at Pennsylvania's median for this field, yielding a manageable 0.73 debt-to-earnings ratio in year one. Within four years, that ratio improves considerably as earnings climb into the low $50,000s—substantially higher than the typical criminal justice graduate earns at that career stage. Still, it's worth noting that top Pennsylvania programs like Peirce College start graduates nearly $12,000 higher, though without visibility into their four-year outcomes or debt loads, the comparison remains incomplete.

For families looking at criminal justice degrees, this program offers a reasonable entry point with solid upward momentum. The initially modest salary shouldn't overshadow the strong earnings progression, particularly given the manageable debt. If your child is committed to this field and values the smaller campus environment (46% of students receive Pell grants), this represents a financially sound choice—just one that requires patience as career advancement drives earnings higher.