Entry Level Salary
$40,405
Median Salary
$79,000
Unemployment Rate
2.6%
Avg: 2.2%
Underemployment Rate
44.7%
Working non-college jobs
Earnings Trajectory
Lifetime: $3,160,000
Entry (Early)
$40,405
Median (Prime)
$79,000
High (Prime)
$80,232
ROI Sensitivity AnalysisAssuming 4 Years to Graduation
This analysis tests three "What-If" scenarios. While most students start at the Entry Level, calculating ROI using Median and High salaries helps illustrate the potential long-term payoff for top performers relative to the degree cost.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
Entry Level
Median
High
$0 Cost
-91k
+235k
+245k
$25k / yr
-181k
+145k
+155k
$50k / yr
-271k
+55k
+65k
Break-even Age
Entry Level
Median
High
$0 Cost
Never
27
27
$25k / yr
Never
34
34
$50k / yr
Never
47
45
Return on Investment %
Entry Level
Median
High
$0 Cost
0%
∞
∞
$25k / yr
-167%
134%
143%
$50k / yr
-125%
25%
30%
Sensitivity Analysis Methodology: These grids assume you begin your career earning the salary specified in the column header (Entry Level = conservative baseline, Median/High = potential upside).
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator, or for more sophisticated analysis, the Guided ROI Interview, with your specific estimates of cost and salary.
Education Impact
Advanced Degree Rate25.6%
Analysis: Most graduates enter the workforce directly with a Bachelor's degree.
Top Professions
Police officers
7.1% of graduates map to this role
Growing
Entry Salary
$58,225
Median Salary (PUMS | BLS)
$79,000|$76,300
openings
53,900 /yr
Growth (10yr): +3.1%
Lawyers, judges, and related workers
4.8% of graduates map to this role
Growing
Entry Salary
$60,000
Median Salary (PUMS | BLS)
$104,672|$144,040
openings
34,400 /yr
Growth (10yr): +4%
Management occupations
3.6% of graduates map to this role
Growing
Entry Salary
$41,644
Median Salary (PUMS | BLS)
$88,473|$122,090
openings
1,147,900 /yr
Growth (10yr): +6.1%
Elementary and middle school teachers
2.7% of graduates map to this role
Stable
Entry Salary
$36,444
Median Salary (PUMS | BLS)
$53,104|$62,500
openings
132,400 /yr
Growth (10yr): -2%
Detectives and criminal investigators
2.3% of graduates map to this role
Stable
Entry Salary
$53,801
Median Salary (PUMS | BLS)
$85,383|$93,580
openings
7,800 /yr
Growth (10yr): -0.7%
Paralegals and legal assistants
2.3% of graduates map to this role
Growing
Entry Salary
$33,765
Median Salary (PUMS | BLS)
$54,758|$61,010
openings
39,300 /yr
Growth (10yr): +0.2%
Social workers, all other
2.0% of graduates map to this role
Growing
Entry Salary
$45,815
Median Salary (PUMS | BLS)
$58,526|$69,480
openings
7,000 /yr
Growth (10yr): +3.9%
Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists
1.9% of graduates map to this role
Growing
Entry Salary
$45,020
Median Salary (PUMS | BLS)
$56,275|$64,520
openings
7,900 /yr
Growth (10yr): +2.6%
First-line supervisors of retail sales workers
1.6% of graduates map to this role
Stable
Entry Salary
$27,801
Median Salary (PUMS | BLS)
$58,526|$47,320
openings
125,100 /yr
Growth (10yr): -5%
Customer service representatives
1.5% of graduates map to this role
Stable
Entry Salary
$28,138
Median Salary (PUMS | BLS)
$43,656|$42,830
openings
341,700 /yr
Growth (10yr): -5.5%
About this Data:
- Entry: Median salary for graduates aged 27 and under (PUMS).
- Median (PUMS | BLS): Comparison of this major's graduates vs. the national market average for the role.
- Growth & Openings: 10-year national projections (2024–2034).
Program Variants & Earnings Ranges
Summary of specific program titles and credential levels mapped to this major, showing the range of earnings across different colleges.
Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.
| Program Title | Credential Level | # Colleges | Median Earnings Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| criminal justice and corrections. | Undergrad Certificate | 496 | $17,864 - $113,262 |
| criminal justice and corrections. | Associate's Degree | 1024 | $24,848 - $72,849 |
| criminal justice and corrections. | Bachelor's Degree | 870 | $21,931 - $106,465 |
| criminal justice and corrections. | Post-bacc Certificate | 12 | $74,889 - $132,191 |
| criminal justice and corrections. | Master's Degree | 289 | $27,039 - $148,025 |
| criminal justice and corrections. | Doctoral Degree | 31 | $85,639 - $109,172 |
| criminal justice and corrections. | Graduate Certificate | 23 | $75,547 - $97,509 |
| criminal justice and corrections. | Level 99 | 21 | $52,150 - $76,867 |
| criminology. | Associate's Degree | 13 | $44,516 - $46,346 |
| criminology. | Bachelor's Degree | 174 | $22,958 - $75,745 |
| criminology. | Master's Degree | 51 | $57,437 - $115,809 |
| criminology. | Doctoral Degree | 14 | Data N/A |
| criminology. | Graduate Certificate | 2 | $73,972 - $73,972 |
| criminology. | Level 99 | 7 | Data N/A |