Criminal Justice and Corrections at San Diego State University

San Diego, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
58 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
58
Optimistic
58
Base Case
48
Pessimistic
Earnings $33,261/yr (-14% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (36% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)
ROI 16.2x earnings multiple (6.7x out-of-state)
Ranked #126 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 $541K $537K $495K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 16.3x 16.2x 14.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.7x 6.7x 6.1x
Probability of Field Employment 34% 32% 26%
DegreeOutlook Score 58 58 48

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$33,160
Out-of-state: $80,680 (6.7x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$64,696
-95% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$13,499
4.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$55,637
67% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $33,261/yr, Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates from San Diego State University land near the $38,544 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 16.2x 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 median debt load of $13,499 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #126 out of 629 programs, San Diego State University's Criminal Justice and Corrections program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $33,261 to $55,637 over five years (67% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About San Diego State University

A 34% acceptance rate puts San Diego State University in competitive admissions territory, with 33,654 students enrolled in San Diego, CA.

See all programs and financial aid at San Diego 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

Other Majors at San Diego State 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

How does San Diego State University's Criminal Justice and Corrections program score?
This program scores 58/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates.
Why does San Diego State University rank so high for Criminal Justice and Corrections?
The #126 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 →