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Criminology at University of Houston-Clear Lake

Houston, TX · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $35,673/yr (-3% vs median)

AI Risk High (50% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (122,700 openings/yr)

ROI 17.0x earnings multiple (6.2x out-of-state)

Ranked #20 of 111 Criminology programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Criminology graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$530K	$526K	$482K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	17.1x	17.0x	15.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	6.2x	6.2x	5.7x
Probability of Field Employment	34%	30%	22%
DegreeOutlook Score	51	51	38

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$30,984

Out-of-state: $85,320 (6.2x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$44,224

-43% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$16,750

5.6 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$54,539

53% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

University of Houston-Clear Lake's Criminology program produces graduates earning $35,673/yr — within striking distance of the $36,749 national average for this field.

The 17.0x 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 — 50% task exposure — and the 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $16,750 in median debt clears quickly against $35,673 in annual earnings.

Ranked #20 out of 111 programs, University of Houston-Clear Lake's Criminology program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $35,673 to $54,539 over five years (53% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of Houston-Clear Lake

A 75% acceptance rate means University of Houston-Clear Lake is accessible to most applicants, enrolling 6,082 students in Houston, TX. With 44% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Houston-Clear Lake →

Top Career Paths

Managers, all other $136,550/yr

Psychologists, all other $117,580/yr

Sociologists $101,690/yr

View all 5 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Criminology at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of Houston-Clear Lake

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 University of Houston-Clear Lake's Criminology program score?

This program scores 51/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Criminology graduates.

How vulnerable is Criminology to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Criminology careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 50% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

Why does University of Houston-Clear Lake rank so high for Criminology?

The #20 ranking out of 111 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 →