Criminal Justice graduates earn $55,378 four years out. Related careers are growing at up to 13.3%, one of the stronger demand signals across all fields. Forensic Science Technicians is among the highest-growth roles in the field.
This page covers Criminal Justice as a course of study: what it costs, where it is taught, and what graduates go on to earn. It sits inside the wider field of Criminal Justice and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.
Criminal Justice is a specialized field of study. Pick this and you can expect to earn around $55,378 four years out, a solid return for a focused credential. You will not have trouble finding it: 1,899 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 103,302 students complete it each year, most walking away with a bachelor's. Coursework pairs research methods with the applied study of people and institutions.
Median Earnings · 1yr
$37,713
Median Earnings · 4yr
$55,378
Colleges Offering
1,899
Graduates / Year
103,302
Avg Net Price / yr
$16,541
How Much Do Criminal Justice Graduates Earn?
Four years after finishing Criminal Justice, a typical graduate earns $55,378, near the national median for college graduates. Half of earners land somewhere between $40,158 and $74,359, so where you end up depends on the job and the employer. Do not judge the field on a starting paycheck alone: pay tends to jump in the first few years, climbing from $37,713 at one year out to $55,378 by year four. Source: College Scorecard.
Starting salaries only. Earnings in this field grow substantially in the first 3 to 5 years.
$55,378
4-Year National Median
Near the national median for college graduates.
$54,337
4-Year Institutional Median
Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.
Earnings Range
Not every Criminal Justice graduate ends up in the same place. Earnings spread out a moderate amount, so know what pushes people to one end or the other. Degree level and sector drive the gap. Graduate-level government and research roles anchor the top; entry-level social services and nonprofit roles anchor the bottom.
$40,15825th pct.
$55,378Median
$74,35975th pct.
A Solid Financial Return
Solid ROI. At median 4-year earnings of $55,378 and an estimated $66,164 four-year net cost, the typical graduate reaches earnings breakeven in roughly 2.6 years.
Based on outcomes from 963 schools.
Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.
Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown
Of the 103,302 students who complete Criminal Justice programs each year, the majority (56%) earn a bachelor's degree.
The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.
28%56%
Bachelor's56%
Associate's28%
Master's8%
What Can You Do With a Criminal Justice Degree?
This degree does not lock you into one job. Criminal Justice graduates show up in 8 different occupations, and Financial Examiners pay the most at $94,160/yr median. Expand any card below to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.
Enforce or ensure compliance with laws and regulations governing financial and securities institutions and financial and real estate transactions. May examine, verify, or authenticate records.
Direct and participate in formal and informal meetings with bank directors, trustees, senior management, counsels, outside accountants, and consultants to gather information and discuss findings.
Recommend actions to ensure compliance with laws and regulations, or to protect solvency of institutions.
Prepare reports, exhibits, and other supporting schedules that detail an institution's safety and soundness, compliance with laws and regulations, and recommended solutions to questionable financial conditions.
Service OrientationComplex Problem SolvingSpeakingReading ComprehensionActive Listening
Day-to-day responsibilities
Plan and direct disaster response or crisis management activities, provide disaster preparedness training, and prepare emergency plans and procedures for natural (e.g., hurricanes, floods, earthquakes), wartime, or technological (e.g., nuclear power plant emergencies or hazardous materials spills) disasters or hostage situations.
Consult with officials of local and area governments, schools, hospitals, and other institutions to determine their needs and capabilities in the event of a natural disaster or other emergency.
Develop and maintain liaisons with municipalities, county departments, and similar entities to facilitate plan development, response effort coordination, and exchanges of personnel and equipment.
Coordinate disaster response or crisis management activities, such as ordering evacuations, opening public shelters, and implementing special needs plans and programs.
Active ListeningReading ComprehensionActive ListeningCritical ThinkingSpeaking
Day-to-day responsibilities
Examine, evaluate, and investigate eligibility for or conformity with laws and regulations governing contract compliance of licenses and permits, and perform other compliance and enforcement inspection and analysis activities not classified elsewhere.
Warn violators of infractions or penalties.
Evaluate applications, records, or documents to gather information about eligibility or liability issues.
Advise licensees or other individuals or groups concerning licensing, permit, or passport regulations.
Teach courses in criminal justice, corrections, and law enforcement administration. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as criminal law, defensive policing, and investigation techniques.
Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
Maintain order and protect life and property by enforcing local, tribal, state, or federal laws and ordinances. Perform a combination of the following duties: patrol a specific area; direct traffic; issue traffic summonses; investigate accidents; apprehend and arrest suspects, or serve legal processes of courts. Includes police officers working at educational institutions.
Identify, pursue, and arrest suspects and perpetrators of criminal acts.
Provide for public safety by maintaining order, responding to emergencies, protecting people and property, enforcing motor vehicle and criminal laws, and promoting good community relations.
Record facts to prepare reports that document incidents and activities.
Collect, identify, classify, and analyze physical evidence related to criminal investigations. Perform tests on weapons or substances, such as fiber, hair, and tissue to determine significance to investigation. May testify as expert witnesses on evidence or crime laboratory techniques. May serve as specialists in area of expertise, such as ballistics, fingerprinting, handwriting, or biochemistry.
Collect evidence from crime scenes, storing it in conditions that preserve its integrity.
Keep records and prepare reports detailing findings, investigative methods, and laboratory techniques.
Use photographic or video equipment to document evidence or crime scenes.
Top Colleges for Criminal Justice
Not sure where to study Criminal Justice? These 20 colleges graduate the most students in it each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.
Ranked by Criminal Justice graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats.
Read our methodology →
Related Criminal Justice Programs
Criminal Justice is not the only path through Criminal Justice: 4 other specializations sit alongside it. The comparison below ranks them by 4-year median earnings so you can see where this one lands.
Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page
into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Criminal Justice program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find
schools that match your profile.
The data on Criminal Justice shows 4 measurable strengths and 2 real trade-offs. All points are sourced from College Scorecard earnings, BLS projections, and IPEDS graduate counts.
PROS
Above-average earningsFour-year median of $55,378 puts graduates ahead of many humanities and social science programs.
Strong salary growthMedian earnings climb from $37,713 at graduation to $55,378 four years later, a clear sign of career momentum in this field.
Fast-growing fieldRelated careers are projected to grow up to +13.3% over the next decade, with Forensic Science Technicians among the fastest-growing roles.
Strong hiring volumeRelated occupations generate more than 105,200 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.
CONS
Declining roles in some areas1 related career show negative 10-year employment projections. Research specific roles before committing.
Highly competitive market103,302 students graduate from this program every year, one of the higher volumes nationally. Entry-level competition can be stiff.
$55,378 four years after finishing the program. Half of graduates land between $40,158 and $74,359, so employer, role, and location move that number more than the degree itself. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the starting salary for a Criminal Justice degree?
$37,713 in the first year out. That grows to $55,378 by year four, so do not judge this field on the entry-level number alone. Most of the gain shows up once you clear the first few years and move past entry-level roles. Source: College Scorecard.
What jobs can you get with a Criminal Justice degree?
Financial Examiners are one path, and it pays a median of $94,160 a year. It is not the only one: the Career Paths section below lists every occupation graduates actually go into, with wages and 10-year growth for each.
How long does a Criminal Justice program take?
Four years of full-time study for a Criminal Justice bachelor's degree, the standard timeline for this field. If you want a faster route into the workforce, community colleges offer a two-year associate option instead.
How many colleges offer Criminal Justice?
1,899 colleges and universities, so you are not short on options. That range runs from community colleges granting certificates and associate degrees to research universities with full doctoral tracks. Source: IPEDS.
Is a Criminal Justice degree worth it?
$55,378 median earnings four years out against $16,541 a year in average net price. That is a reasonable payback window, best at lower-cost schools and in high-demand roles. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific schools before deciding. Source: College Scorecard.
What skills do employers look for in Criminal Justice graduates?
Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Criminal Justice graduates consistently look for research methodology, interpersonal communication, and policy understanding. Experience with surveys, qualitative interviews, or statistical tools is often a differentiator in government, nonprofit, and research roles. Build those into your coursework and internships now, and the job search later gets easier.
What is the job outlook for Criminal Justice graduates?
Outlook is moderate overall: related occupations average +4.1% projected job growth over the next 10 years. Forensic Science Technicians are among the strongest-growth roles at +13.3%. That average hides real differences by role and location, so check the Career Paths section below for the projection on each specific occupation before you count on any single number.
Related Criminal Justice Programs
Other programs in Criminal Justice. Compare earnings, credentials, and career paths before committing to a specialization.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
H
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