Criminal Justice and Corrections at University of Southern Indiana

University of Southern Indiana's Criminal Justice program hits the national average for earnings but falls short within Indiana, where it ranks in just the 40th percentile among 28 programs. That matters because Calumet College of Saint Joseph, Vincennes, and several other state schools push graduates into the mid-40s within a year—roughly $6,000-16,000 more annually than USI delivers. For Indiana families comparing in-state options, this program starts behind and stays there.

The debt picture offers some relief: at $20,000, graduates owe about $5,000 less than the Indiana median and $6,000 less than the national average. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.51 means graduates could theoretically pay off loans in about six months of pre-tax earnings. Earnings do grow 19% to $46,670 by year four, demonstrating some career progression—though that still trails the top Indiana programs where graduates start at those salary levels.

For families set on criminal justice at USI, the lower debt keeps this program from being a poor investment. But with Indiana offering notably stronger options at similar price points, parents should have a conversation about whether their student can access Vincennes or one of the IU campuses. USI works if location matters most, but it's not the competitive choice within the state.