Criminal Justice and Corrections at Kean University

Union, NJ · Public · Bachelor's Degree
57 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
58
Optimistic
57
Base Case
47
Pessimistic
Earnings $39,408/yr (2% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (36% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)
ROI 10.1x earnings multiple (6.4x out-of-state)
Ranked #160 of 629 Criminal Justice and Corrections programs Top 25%

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 $546K $542K $500K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 10.2x 10.1x 9.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.5x 6.4x 5.9x
Probability of Field Employment 34% 32% 26%
DegreeOutlook Score 58 57 47

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$53,704
Out-of-state: $84,304 (6.4x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$48,672
9% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,213
7.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$59,246
50% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $39,408/yr, roughly in line with the $38,544 national median for Criminal Justice and Corrections. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 10.1x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Criminal Justice and Corrections programs nationally.

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 9% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $24,213 represents roughly 7 months of the $39,408 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #160 of 629 nationally, this is a top-5% Criminal Justice and Corrections program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $59,246 show a 50% jump from the $39,408 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Kean University

Kean University accepts 77% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving 10,842 students in Union, NJ. With 46% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at Kean 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 Kean University

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Criminal Justice and Corrections at Kean University?
A score of 57/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Criminal Justice and Corrections field.
What makes Kean University's Criminal Justice and Corrections program stand out?
Ranked #160 of 629 programs nationally, Kean University lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →