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Criminal Justice and Corrections at Central Washington University

Ellensburg, WA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $44,172/yr (15% vs median)

AI Risk Moderate (36% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)

ROI 14.8x earnings multiple (5.1x out-of-state)

Ranked #29 of 629 Criminal Justice and Corrections programs Top 5%

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	$550K	$546K	$502K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	15.0x	14.8x	13.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.1x	5.1x	4.7x
Probability of Field Employment	34%	32%	26%
DegreeOutlook Score	66	65	55

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$36,768

Out-of-state: $107,084 (5.1x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$58,860

-60% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$19,500

5.3 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$61,698

40% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $44,172 per year, Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates from Central Washington University earn slightly above the $38,544 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

The 14.8x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 36% task exposure — and the 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $19,500 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #29 out of 629 programs, Central Washington University's Criminal Justice and Corrections program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $44,172 to $61,698 shows 40% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Central Washington University

With 90% of applicants admitted, Central Washington University prioritizes broad access, enrolling 8,081 students in Ellensburg, WA.

See all programs and financial aid at Central Washington University →

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 Central Washington University

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 Central Washington University's Criminal Justice and Corrections program score?

This program scores 65/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates.

Why does Central Washington University rank so high for Criminal Justice and Corrections?

The #29 ranking out of 629 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →