Criminal Justice and Corrections at Northern Kentucky University

Highland Heights, KY · Public · Bachelor's Degree
53 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
54
Optimistic
53
Base Case
43
Pessimistic
Earnings $35,724/yr (-7% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (36% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)
ROI 11.8x earnings multiple (6.0x out-of-state)
Ranked #278 of 629 Criminal Justice and Corrections programs Top 50%

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) 11.8x 11.8x 10.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.0x 6.0x 5.5x
Probability of Field Employment 34% 32% 26%
DegreeOutlook Score 54 53 43

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$43,584
Out-of-state: $85,920 (6.0x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$28,672
34% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,812
7.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$51,498
44% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Northern Kentucky University's Criminal Justice and Corrections program produces graduates earning $35,724/yr — within striking distance of the $38,544 national average for this field.

The 11.8x 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.

The $22,812 debt-to-$35,724 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #278 out of 629 programs, Northern Kentucky University's Criminal Justice and Corrections offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $35,724 to $51,498 shows 44% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Northern Kentucky University

A 96% acceptance rate means Northern Kentucky University is accessible to most applicants, with a mid-sized student body of 8,065 in Highland Heights, KY. The average net cost of $28,672 over four years represents a 34% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Northern Kentucky 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 Northern Kentucky University

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 Northern Kentucky University's Criminal Justice and Corrections program score?
This program scores 53/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →