Home › California State University-Northridge › Criminal Justice and Corrections

Criminal Justice and Corrections at California State University-Northridge

Northridge, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $34,870/yr (-10% vs median)

AI Risk Moderate (36% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)

ROI 16.3x earnings multiple (6.1x out-of-state)

Ranked #320 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	$461K	$463K	$435K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	16.2x	16.3x	15.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	6.1x	6.1x	5.7x
Probability of Field Employment	34%	32%	26%
DegreeOutlook Score	52	51	41

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$28,380

Out-of-state: $75,900 (6.1x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$30,396

-7% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$11,000

3.8 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $34,870/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 16.3x 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 6% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $34,870 far exceeding the $11,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #320 of 629 Criminal Justice and Corrections programs, California State University-Northridge falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About California State University-Northridge

California State University-Northridge accepts 93% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving a student body of 32,357 in Northridge, CA. With 56% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

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

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-Northridge

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Criminal Justice and Corrections at California State University-Northridge?

This program scores 51/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Criminal Justice and Corrections programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →