Criminal Justice and Corrections at Xavier University

Xavier's Criminal Justice program shows modest earnings that outpace both state and national competitors, though the small graduating class means these numbers should be interpreted carefully. Starting at $41,000 and climbing to $44,000 by year four, graduates earn about $4,000 more than Ohio's typical criminal justice graduate and $6,000 more than the national median. Within Ohio's 46 programs, this places Xavier at the 60th percentile—solidly above average, though well behind specialized programs like Herzing-Akron.

The debt picture is reasonable for a private institution at $26,400, translating to a 0.64 debt-to-earnings ratio. While that's manageable, it's important to recognize that criminal justice remains a relatively modest-earning field. The 8% earnings growth from year one to year four suggests stable career progression rather than dramatic income acceleration. For context, Xavier's 14% Pell grant population indicates this draws primarily from middle- and upper-income families who may have more financial flexibility.

The small sample size is the elephant in the room—fewer than 30 graduates means a single outlier could significantly skew these figures. If your child is considering this path, the numbers suggest Xavier provides better-than-average preparation for criminal justice careers, but the field itself caps earning potential. At this price point, it's worth comparing total cost of attendance against state schools that produce similar outcomes.