Criminal Justice and Corrections at Lees-McRae College

Banner Elk, NC · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
43 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
43
Optimistic
43
Base Case
32
Pessimistic
Earnings $39,811/yr (3% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (36% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)
ROI 3.9x earnings multiple
Ranked #534 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 $479K $480K $449K
Earnings Multiple 3.8x 3.9x 3.6x
Probability of Field Employment 34% 32% 26%
DegreeOutlook Score 43 43 32

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$124,560
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$103,060
17% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$14,050
4.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$44,593
12% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Lees-McRae College's Criminal Justice and Corrections program produces graduates earning $39,811/yr — within striking distance of the $38,544 national average for this field.

An earnings multiple of 3.9x 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.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $14,050 in median debt clears quickly against $39,811 in annual earnings.

Ranked #534 of 629 Criminal Justice and Corrections programs, Lees-McRae College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $44,593 are relatively flat compared to the $39,811 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About Lees-McRae College

A 81% acceptance rate means Lees-McRae College is accessible to most applicants, with a smaller student body of 817 in Banner Elk, NC.

See all programs and financial aid at Lees-McRae 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 Lees-McRae College

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 Lees-McRae College?
A score of 43/100 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 →