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Criminology at Dominican University

River Forest, IL · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $31,758/yr (-14% vs median)

AI Risk High (50% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (122,700 openings/yr)

ROI 3.4x earnings multiple

Ranked #101 of 111 Criminology programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Criminology graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$521K	$518K	$476K
Earnings Multiple	3.4x	3.4x	3.1x
Probability of Field Employment	34%	30%	22%
DegreeOutlook Score	31	31	19

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$151,376

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$60,452

60% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$26,000

9.8 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$51,128

61% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Dominican University's Criminology program produces graduates earning $31,758/yr — within striking distance of the $36,749 national average for this field.

An earnings multiple of 3.4x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

Some AI exposure exists in Criminology's typical career paths, with 50% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 9% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $26,000 represents roughly 10 months of the $31,758 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #101 of 111 Criminology programs, Dominican University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $51,128 show a 61% jump from the $31,758 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Dominican University

A 80% acceptance rate means Dominican University is accessible to most applicants, a smaller institution with 2,271 students in River Forest, IL. Pell Grant recipients make up 49% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity. The average net cost of $60,452 over four years represents a 60% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Dominican University →

Top Career Paths

Managers, all other $136,550/yr

Psychologists, all other $117,580/yr

Sociologists $101,690/yr

View all 5 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Criminology at Other Schools

Other Majors at Dominican University

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Criminology at Dominican University?

A score of 31/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Criminology. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Will AI replace Criminology careers?

With 50% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $476,030 in decade earnings vs $520,701 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Is Dominican University a hidden gem for Criminology?

After financial aid, the average student pays $60,452 over four years — 60% below the $151,376 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.

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