Criminal Justice and Corrections at Winona State University

Winona State's criminal justice program dramatically outperforms the national field—graduates earn $48,861 in their first year, nearly $11,000 above the national median and landing in the 95th percentile nationally. That's the good news. The complication: within Minnesota's particularly strong criminal justice programs, this sits squarely at the state median, trailing regional leaders like Herzing Minneapolis ($67,229) and Saint Mary's ($64,894) by significant margins. With $26,012 in median debt (roughly average nationally), you're looking at a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.53—manageable territory that most graduates should clear within two years of focused repayment.

The 17% earnings growth over four years suggests steady career progression, though whether Winona State prepares students as effectively for higher-level positions as the state's top programs remains an open question. For Minnesota families, this represents a solid mid-tier option: substantially better than attending an out-of-state program with lower outcomes, but not the ceiling for what's available in-state. If your student is choosing between Winona State and a criminal justice program from another state ranking below the national median, this is clearly the stronger bet. If they're deciding among Minnesota schools, understanding the $15,000-20,000 first-year earnings gap with top performers matters for long-term trajectory.