Criminal Justice and Corrections at University of St Francis

University of St. Francis delivers first-year earnings of $43,793 for its criminal justice graduates—significantly above both the Illinois median ($39,317) and the national median ($37,856). While the school's debt figure is estimated from similar Illinois programs at around $26,000, this produces a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.59, suggesting graduates could reasonably handle repayment while establishing their careers in law enforcement or corrections.

The concern here isn't the starting point but the trajectory: earnings actually decline 2% between year one and year four, dropping to $43,109. This stagnation stands in stark contrast to what you'd hope to see as graduates gain experience and move into supervisory roles. It's unclear whether this reflects challenges specific to St. Francis alumni, broader trends in Illinois criminal justice careers, or simply the limitations of comparing different cohorts at different points in time. What is clear is that the strong initial placement doesn't translate into the kind of momentum you'd want to see.

For parents, the calculus depends on whether their child values the institutional environment at St. Francis enough to offset this uncertainty. The estimated debt load appears reasonable for the field, and starting near $44,000 puts graduates ahead of most peers. But without visibility into why earnings plateau—or actual debt data for this specific cohort—you're making this investment without a complete picture of the return.