Criminal Justice and Corrections at Metropolitan State University

Saint Paul, MN · Public · Bachelor's Degree
67 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
67
Optimistic
67
Base Case
58
Pessimistic
Earnings $52,125/yr (35% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (36% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)
ROI 13.6x earnings multiple
Ranked #13 of 629 Criminal Justice and Corrections programs Top 5%

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 $536K $532K $491K
Earnings Multiple 13.7x 13.6x 12.6x
Probability of Field Employment 34% 32% 26%
DegreeOutlook Score 67 67 58

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$39,120
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$76,724
-96% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$16,146
3.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$60,410
16% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $52,125 put Metropolitan State University's Criminal Justice and Corrections program 35% above the national median of $38,544 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 13.6x 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 8% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $52,125 far exceeding the $16,146 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #13 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 $60,410 are relatively flat compared to the $52,125 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About Metropolitan State University

Metropolitan State University accepts 96% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a smaller student body of 4,998 in Saint Paul, MN. 44% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at Metropolitan State 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

Compare Criminal Justice and Corrections

Other Majors at Metropolitan State 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 Criminal Justice and Corrections at Metropolitan State University?
A score of 67/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Criminal Justice and Corrections field.
What makes Metropolitan State University's Criminal Justice and Corrections program stand out?
Ranked #13 of 629 programs nationally, Metropolitan State University lands in the top 5%. 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 →