Home Schools Benedictine University Criminal Justice
Public Safety & Security · Criminal Justice Rank #383 of 629

Criminal Justiceat Benedictine University

Graduates earn $46,020/yr in their first year — about 19.0% above the national Criminal Justice average. Base-case 10-year earnings $504K; scenarios range from $468K to $505K depending on AI disruption.

Lisle, IL Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
49 AVERAGE
49
Optimistic
39
Pessimistic
Earnings
$46,020
1-year post-graduation
ROI
2.4x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$504K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Moderate
40% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Benedictine University

Graduates earn $46,020/yr, edging above the $38,544 national average for Criminal Justice — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

At 3.7x tuition cost in decade earnings, the ROI is moderate. This program pays for itself, but it's not a financial slam-dunk.

The 7% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Criminal Justice career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.

At $25,000 against $46,020/yr in earnings, the debt burden is moderate. Most graduates should manage repayment without extended financial strain.

A #383 ranking among 629 Criminal Justice programs places Benedictine University in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$468K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score39/100
Earnings Multiple3.4x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$504K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score49/100
Earnings Multiple3.7x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$505K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score49/100
Earnings Multiple3.7x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Benedictine University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Criminal Justice graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Managers, all other
+4.5% 10-yr growth · 106,700 openings/yr
$136,550/yr
Moderate
2
First-line supervisors of police and detectives
+2.9% 10-yr growth · 10,900 openings/yr
$105,980/yr
Moderate
3
Detectives and criminal investigators
-0.7% 10-yr growth · 7,800 openings/yr
$93,580/yr
High
4
Financial examiners
+18.5% 10-yr growth · 5,700 openings/yr
$90,400/yr
High
5
Emergency management directors
+3.0% 10-yr growth · 1,000 openings/yr
$86,130/yr
Moderate
6
Transit and railroad police
+3.0% 10-yr growth · 200 openings/yr
$82,320/yr
Low
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Criminal Justice

How Benedictine University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Charter Oak State College
CT · Public
67
DW Score
$69K
1-yr earn
19.3x
ROI
Herzing University-Birmingham
AL · Private nonprofit
67
DW Score
$67K
1-yr earn
10.9x
ROI
Herzing University-Atlanta
GA · Private nonprofit
67
DW Score
$67K
1-yr earn
10.9x
ROI
Herzing University-Minneapolis
MN · Private nonprofit
67
DW Score
$67K
1-yr earn
10.9x
ROI
Herzing University-Akron
OH · Private nonprofit
67
DW Score
$67K
1-yr earn
10.9x
ROI
Also at Benedictine University

Other top programs at Benedictine University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Benedictine University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Criminal Justice offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Criminal Justice trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Criminal Justice at Benedictine University

What does a 49/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Criminal Justice at Benedictine University?

At 49/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Criminal Justice programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.