Criminal Justice and Corrections at Benedict College

Columbia, SC · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
36 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
36
Optimistic
36
Base Case
30
Pessimistic
Earnings $23,838/yr (-38% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (36% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)
ROI 6.9x earnings multiple
Ranked #615 of 629 Criminal Justice and Corrections programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $496K $496K $462K
Earnings Multiple 6.9x 6.9x 6.4x
Probability of Field Employment 34% 32% 26%
DegreeOutlook Score 36 36 30

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$72,000
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$71,124
1% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$37,000
18.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$42,829
80% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $23,838 place Benedict College below the $38,544 national median for Criminal Justice and Corrections — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

At 6.9x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 36% task exposure — and the 7% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $37,000 debt load exceeds a year of the $23,838 starting salary, suggesting a multi-year repayment window before graduates break even financially.

At #615 out of 629 programs, Benedict College's financial outcomes for Criminal Justice and Corrections trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $23,838 to $42,829 over five years (80% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Benedict College

A 67% admission rate makes Benedict College accessible to a wide range of qualified students, a smaller institution with 1,573 students in Columbia, SC. 63% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at Benedict College →

Top Career Paths

Managers, all other $136,550/yr
First-line supervisors of police and detectives $105,980/yr
Detectives and criminal investigators $93,580/yr
View all 20 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Criminal Justice and Corrections at Other Schools

Other Majors at Benedict College

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Benedict College's Criminal Justice and Corrections program score?
This program scores 36/100 — on the lower end for Criminal Justice and Corrections. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
Do Benedict College Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates earn enough to justify the loans?
The debt-to-income ratio of 1.6x suggests an extended repayment window. Whether it's 'worth it' depends on career trajectory, not just first-year pay.
Why are Criminal Justice and Corrections earnings lower at Benedict College?
Lower starting pay at Benedict College may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →