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Criminal Justice and Corrections at Metropolitan State University of Denver

Denver, CO · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $44,497/yr (15% vs median)

AI Risk Moderate (36% exposed)

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

ROI 11.9x earnings multiple (4.3x out-of-state)

Ranked #100 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	$515K	$513K	$476K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	11.9x	11.9x	11.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.4x	4.3x	4.0x
Probability of Field Employment	34%	32%	26%
DegreeOutlook Score	60	59	49

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$43,120

Out-of-state: $118,012 (4.3x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$57,176

-33% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$20,000

5.4 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$53,863

21% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $44,497 at Metropolitan State University of Denver come in 15% above the national median of $38,544 for Criminal Justice and Corrections programs.

The 11.9x 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 8% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $44,497 far exceeding the $20,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #100 out of 629 programs, Metropolitan State University of Denver's Criminal Justice and Corrections program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $44,497 to $53,863 shows 21% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Metropolitan State University of Denver

Metropolitan State University of Denver accepts 99% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, enrolling 14,932 students in Denver, CO.

See all programs and financial aid at Metropolitan State University of Denver →

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 Metropolitan State University of Denver

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 Metropolitan State University of Denver's Criminal Justice and Corrections program score?

This program scores 59/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates.

Why does Metropolitan State University of Denver rank so high for Criminal Justice and Corrections?

The #100 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 →