Program Analysis
At $35,796/yr, Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates from Appalachian State University land near the $38,544 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 16.9x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Criminal Justice and Corrections programs nationally.
Some AI exposure exists in Criminal Justice and Corrections's typical career paths, with 36% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 7% gap from the optimistic case.
Median debt of $18,066 represents roughly 6 months of the $35,796 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.
At #161 of 629 Criminal Justice and Corrections programs, Appalachian State University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.
Earnings grow from $35,796 to $50,569 over five years — a 41% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.