Criminology at William Penn University

First-year earnings around $43,000 sound reasonable until you realize this figure comes from just three Iowa programs reporting data—and we don't know where William Penn's graduates actually land within that range. The estimated $26,000 in debt sits slightly above the national median for criminology degrees, producing a 0.60 debt-to-earnings ratio that appears manageable on paper. But for a school serving nearly half its students on Pell grants, that debt burden matters more than the ratio suggests.

The real challenge is the ceiling. Nationally, even top-performing criminology programs barely crack $40,500 in first-year earnings. When the University of Iowa—the state's flagship—reports graduates starting at just $38,500, it raises questions about how much room there is for advancement in this field. Criminal justice careers often require additional certifications or graduate degrees to move beyond entry-level positions, which means that $26,000 in undergraduate debt may not be your final education bill.

Without actual outcomes from William Penn, you're betting on your child matching results from peer programs while taking on above-average debt at a small private college. If this degree is a stepping stone to law school or graduate work, factor those costs into your planning. If it's meant to launch a career directly, look hard at what those entry-level salaries buy in terms of loan payments and living expenses before committing.