Criminology at University of Saint Mary

University of Saint Mary's criminology graduates earn $42,633 in their first year—substantially outpacing the national median of $37,476 and landing in the 91st percentile nationally. That's an impressive performance for a program at a school with a 90% admission rate. However, the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift considerably with more data, and within Kansas specifically, this sits right at the state median rather than standing out from in-state competition.

The debt picture is reasonable: $25,474 is close to the national median for criminology programs, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.60. Graduates should be able to manage their loans on a public sector salary, which matters since many criminology careers are in law enforcement or corrections. The 37% Pell grant rate suggests this school serves a meaningful number of lower-income students who need programs that deliver on earnings promises.

For parents, the national ranking is encouraging, but treat it cautiously given the limited data. If your student is committed to criminology and considering Saint Mary for other reasons—location near Leavenworth's correctional facilities, specific faculty expertise, or campus fit—the program appears financially viable. Just recognize that the impressive national percentile might be more about data variance than a proven track record, and within Kansas itself, there's nothing that suggests this program offers an advantage over alternatives.