Criminal Justice and Corrections at California State University-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
60 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
60
Optimistic
60
Base Case
50
Pessimistic
Earnings $32,974/yr (-14% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (36% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)
ROI 19.9x earnings multiple (7.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #81 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 $547K $543K $500K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 20.1x 19.9x 18.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.3x 7.3x 6.7x
Probability of Field Employment 34% 32% 26%
DegreeOutlook Score 60 60 50

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$27,252
Out-of-state: $74,792 (7.3x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$16,452
40% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$11,000
4.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$56,580
72% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $32,974/yr, roughly in line with the $38,544 national median for Criminal Justice and Corrections. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 19.9x 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 9% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $32,974 far exceeding the $11,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #81 of 629 nationally, this is a top-5% Criminal Justice and Corrections program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $56,580 show a 72% jump from the $32,974 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About California State University-Los Angeles

California State University-Los Angeles accepts 92% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving a student body of 21,478 in Los Angeles, CA. With 66% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum. After financial aid, the average student pays $16,452 over four years — 40% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at California State University-Los Angeles →

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 State University-Los Angeles

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Criminal Justice and Corrections at California State University-Los Angeles?
A score of 60/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Criminal Justice and Corrections field.
What makes California State University-Los Angeles's Criminal Justice and Corrections program stand out?
Ranked #81 of 629 programs nationally, California State University-Los Angeles 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 →