Criminal Justice and Corrections at Wayne State University

Detroit, MI · Public · Bachelor's Degree
57 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
57
Optimistic
57
Base Case
47
Pessimistic
Earnings $39,132/yr (2% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (36% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)
ROI 9.6x earnings multiple (4.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #156 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 $554K $549K $505K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 9.7x 9.6x 8.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.6x 4.5x 4.2x
Probability of Field Employment 34% 32% 26%
DegreeOutlook Score 57 57 47

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$57,188
Out-of-state: $121,676 (4.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$59,092
-3% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,500
7.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$60,667
55% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $39,132/yr, roughly in line with the $38,544 national median for Criminal Justice and Corrections. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

At 9.6x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 36% task exposure — and the 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $25,500 debt-to-$39,132 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #156 out of 629 programs, Wayne State University's Criminal Justice and Corrections program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $39,132 to $60,667 over five years (55% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Wayne State University

Wayne State University accepts 82% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving 15,676 students in Detroit, MI. With 43% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at Wayne 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 Wayne 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 Wayne State University's Criminal Justice and Corrections program score?
This program scores 57/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates.
Why does Wayne State University rank so high for Criminal Justice and Corrections?
The #156 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 →