Criminal Justice and Corrections at Gardner-Webb University

Boiling Springs, NC · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
40 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
40
Optimistic
40
Base Case
29
Pessimistic
Earnings $35,433/yr (-8% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (36% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)
ROI 3.6x earnings multiple
Ranked #576 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 $482K $483K $451K
Earnings Multiple 3.6x 3.6x 3.4x
Probability of Field Employment 34% 32% 26%
DegreeOutlook Score 40 40 29

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$133,800
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$96,548
28% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,580
8.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$44,376
25% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Gardner-Webb University's Criminal Justice and Corrections program produces graduates earning $35,433/yr — within striking distance of the $38,544 national average for this field.

An earnings multiple of 3.6x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

Some AI exposure exists in Criminal Justice and Corrections's typical career paths, with 36% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 6% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $24,580 represents roughly 8 months of the $35,433 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #576 of 629 Criminal Justice and Corrections programs, Gardner-Webb University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $35,433 to $44,376 over five years — a 25% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Gardner-Webb University

A 87% acceptance rate means Gardner-Webb University is accessible to most applicants, a smaller institution with 1,836 students in Boiling Springs, NC.

See all programs and financial aid at Gardner-Webb 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

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Criminal Justice and Corrections at Gardner-Webb University?
A score of 40/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Criminal Justice and Corrections. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →