Criminology at Upper Iowa University

Upper Iowa University's criminology graduates earn substantially more than the national average—roughly $6,000 above the typical program—placing them in the 95th percentile nationally. That's genuinely impressive for what the numbers might suggest is an access-focused institution. However, this strong starting salary comes at a steep cost: median debt of $43,447 is nearly double what criminology graduates typically carry and roughly double the Iowa state median of $24,683.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.01 means graduates owe about as much as they'll earn in their first year—a challenging position for a field where earnings remain relatively flat (growing just 3% over four years to $44,252). While Upper Iowa criminology graduates earn competitively within Iowa (60th percentile), they're carrying significantly more debt than peers at University of Northern Iowa or University of Iowa, who achieve similar or better earnings with roughly half the debt burden.

For families comfortable with monthly loan payments around $450-500 for ten years, the strong initial earnings might justify the investment. But this program requires borrowing substantially more than competitors for comparable outcomes. Unless your child has specific reasons to attend Upper Iowa over less expensive Iowa alternatives, the debt premium here doesn't align with the earnings advantage.