Criminal Justice at Ball State University
Muncie, IN · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Criminal Justice and Corrections
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
58
Optimistic
57
Base Case
47
Pessimistic
Earnings
$39,991/yr (4% vs median)
AI Risk
Moderate (36% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)
ROI
12.0x earnings multiple (4.5x out-of-state)
How AI Changes the Outlook
Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Criminal Justice graduates.
| Optimistic No Disruption |
Base Case Gradual AI |
Pessimistic Aggressive AI |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $520K | $518K | $479K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 12.1x | 12.0x | 11.1x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 4.5x | 4.5x | 4.2x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 34% | 32% | 26% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 58 | 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)
$43,032
Out-of-state: $115,064 (4.5x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,982
6.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$53,870
35% growth from Year 1
About Ball State University
Ball State University accepts 72% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a mid-sized student body of 13,770 in Muncie, IN.
See all programs and financial aid at Ball 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
Compare & Explore
Criminal Justice at Other Schools
Other Majors at Ball 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
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Criminal Justice at Ball State University?
A score of 57/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Criminal Justice field.
What makes Ball State University's Criminal Justice program stand out?
Ranked #150 of 629 programs nationally, Ball State University lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →