Criminal Justice and Corrections at California Lutheran University

Thousand Oaks, CA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
49 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
50
Optimistic
49
Base Case
39
Pessimistic
Earnings $43,122/yr (12% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (36% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)
ROI 2.8x earnings multiple
Ranked #379 of 629 Criminal Justice and Corrections programs

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 $579K $573K $524K
Earnings Multiple 2.9x 2.8x 2.6x
Probability of Field Employment 34% 32% 26%
DegreeOutlook Score 50 49 39

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$202,680
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$105,732
48% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,000
5.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$67,177
56% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

California Lutheran University's Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates start at $43,122/yr — above the $38,544 national average, though not by a wide margin.

An earnings multiple of 2.8x means the program roughly breaks even in financial terms over ten years. Non-financial factors need to justify the investment.

AI risk is moderate — 36% task exposure — and the 10% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $20,000 in median debt clears quickly against $43,122 in annual earnings.

At #379 out of 629 programs, California Lutheran University's financial outcomes for Criminal Justice and Corrections trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $43,122 to $67,177 over five years (56% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About California Lutheran University

A 89% acceptance rate means California Lutheran University is accessible to most applicants, a compact campus enrolling 2,374 students in Thousand Oaks, CA. After financial aid, the average student pays $105,732 over four years — 48% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at California Lutheran 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 California Lutheran University

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does California Lutheran University's Criminal Justice and Corrections program score?
This program scores 49/100 — on the lower end for Criminal Justice and Corrections. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →