Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $40,898 at Western Illinois University come in 6% above the national median of $38,544 for Criminal Justice and Corrections programs.
The earnings-to-cost ratio of 9.5x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.
Some AI exposure exists in Criminal Justice and Corrections's typical career paths, with 36% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 9% gap from the optimistic case.
Median debt of $24,859 represents roughly 7 months of the $40,898 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.
At #84 of 629 nationally, this is a top-5% Criminal Justice and Corrections program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.
Five-year earnings of $65,120 show a 59% jump from the $40,898 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.