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Criminology at University of Southern Maine

Portland, ME · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $47,726/yr (30% vs median)

AI Risk High (50% exposed)

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

ROI 12.5x earnings multiple (5.0x out-of-state)

Ranked #2 of 111 Criminology programs Top 5%

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	$554K	$547K	$498K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	12.7x	12.5x	11.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.1x	5.0x	4.6x
Probability of Field Employment	34%	30%	22%
DegreeOutlook Score	58	57	44

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$43,680

Out-of-state: $108,416 (5.0x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$46,916

-7% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$22,549

5.7 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$63,574

33% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $47,726 put University of Southern Maine's Criminology program 30% above the national median of $36,749 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.

The 12.5x 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 10% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $47,726 far exceeding the $22,549 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #2 out of 111 programs, University of Southern Maine's Criminology program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $47,726 to $63,574 shows 33% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About University of Southern Maine

University of Southern Maine accepts 79% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a smaller student body of 4,245 in Portland, ME.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Southern Maine →

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 Southern Maine

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 Southern Maine's Criminology program score?

This program scores 57/100, 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 Southern Maine rank so high for Criminology?

The #2 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 →