Criminal Justice and Corrections at University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne

Based on comparable Indiana programs, this associate's degree in criminal justice carries estimated debt of $32,286—more than double the national median of $14,230 for this credential. That's a significant load when first-year earnings from peer programs in Indiana sit around $34,748, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio that requires nearly a full year's salary to repay. For context, criminal justice associate's degrees at most schools nationally involve far less borrowing, with the typical graduate owing half what University of Saint Francis students are projected to carry.

The earnings picture from similar Indiana programs isn't particularly strong either. At roughly $34,748, graduates from comparable programs earn slightly above the national median but remain well below what students achieve at schools like Purdue University Global ($50,881) or Indiana Wesleyan ($38,495). Criminal justice roles often start at modest salaries regardless of where you study, but the debt burden here amplifies the challenge of those early career years when every dollar counts toward loan payments.

For anxious parents, the core question is whether this specific program justifies borrowing twice the typical amount for this credential. Since these figures are estimates drawn from peer institutions rather than Saint Francis's actual outcomes, it's worth requesting the school's true graduate data before committing. If the debt projection holds, your child would face considerably higher financial pressure than most criminal justice graduates nationally—a serious consideration for a field where starting salaries don't offer much cushion.