Criminal Justice and Corrections at University of the Virgin Islands

The University of the Virgin Islands' criminal justice program produces graduates earning slightly below the national median for this field, though the small graduating class (under 30 students) means these numbers could shift significantly year to year. First-year earnings of $36,846 land just below the $37,856 national benchmark, while debt levels of $26,980 are typical for the field nationwide.

The 0.73 debt-to-earnings ratio is manageable—graduates owe less than their first year's salary—but the real limitation here is the ceiling. Criminal justice salaries tend to be modest across the board, with even top-performing programs nationally hitting just $42,187 at the 75th percentile. UVI graduates start at these constrained earnings levels, which means career advancement will be crucial for building financial stability. The territory's job market and law enforcement landscape will heavily influence whether these graduates can move up the salary ladder.

For Virgin Islands residents, UVI is the only local option for this degree, which makes the decision straightforward if staying in-territory matters. For students considering mainland alternatives, know that you're unlikely to find dramatically better outcomes elsewhere in criminal justice—this is a field where passion for the work matters more than which school's name is on the diploma. Just ensure your child understands the salary realities before committing.