Criminal Justice at California State University-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Criminal Justice and Corrections
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)
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 | $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)
Median Debt at Graduation
$11,000
4.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$56,580
72% growth from Year 1
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
Compare & Explore
Criminal Justice 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 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 field.
What makes California State University-Los Angeles's Criminal Justice 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 →