Criminal Justice and Corrections at Walden University

Walden's online criminal justice program charges nearly double the typical debt load ($48,133 versus $26,130 nationally) while delivering earnings that start strong but then decline. Graduates earn $50,634 in their first year—significantly above the national median of $37,856—but that figure drops to $48,565 by year four. That 4% earnings decline is unusual for bachelor's graduates and suggests this program may not be opening doors to career advancement the way parents would hope.

The Minnesota comparison reveals the real issue. While Walden ranks in the 95th percentile nationally, it sits at just the 60th percentile among Minnesota programs—meaning most in-state alternatives deliver similar or better earnings at roughly half the debt. Metropolitan State University, for instance, produces graduates earning $52,125 with typical state school debt levels. For a family considering in-state options, paying private university prices for online coursework that doesn't outperform the state system requires serious justification.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.95 means graduates leave owing nearly a full year's salary. That's manageable if earnings grow, but with a negative trajectory and half the student body receiving Pell grants, many graduates will face financial pressure. Unless your child specifically needs the flexibility of Walden's online format and has no viable in-state alternatives, Minnesota's public universities offer a substantially better value proposition for criminal justice studies.